Infestation of Sugarcane Accessions by Eldana sacch arina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) at Calabar, in the Rainforest Zone of Nigeria
*OKWECHE, S, L UMOETOK, S. B. A. AND IWO, G, A.
Department of Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar, P, M, 8, 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
Nig, J, Entomol. 33: 67 -72 (2017)
DOI: 10.36108/NJE/7102/33(0180)
ABSTRACT: Twelve accessions of sugarcane namely AKWA-005,86120~, B79797,C0504, COl00l,CP65-357, DB37/45, EBON-006, Fl4L HAT4, IMO-002 and TRITON were exposed to natural infestation of the African stem borer (Eldana saccharina Walker) at Calabar in 20 14 and 20 15 cropping seasons and susceptibility to infestation evaluated using percentage bored and lodged stems, number of borer exit holes/infested stem, number of borers/infested stem, length of stem and number of stems/stool. Experimental design was Randomized Complete Block (RCB) with four treatment replications, The results showed that accessions AKWA-005, C0504, HAT4, and TRITON had significantly (P<O,05) higher percentages of bored and lodged stems, higher numbers of borer larvae and exit holes/infested stem, and longer tunnel length than other accessions. HAT4 had the shortest stem and the lowest number of stems/stool, differing significantly (P<0.05) from all other accessions. Relative to accessions B61208, B79797,COI001, CP65-357, OB37/45, EBON-006, Fl41, and IMO-002, AKWA-005, C0504, HAT4, and TRITON are susceptible and should be replaced to mitigate EIciana damage to sugarcane in the area,
Keywords: infestation, sugarcane accessions, E. saccharina, tunnel length, lodged stems, bored stems