Abstract
The effects of location, maize types and borer control with carbofuran (Furadan 3G®) on the severity of maize stem borer infestation and damage was investigated in the late maize planting season of 2011. Treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design using a split-slip-plot factorial arrangement. Whole plot factor consisted of two locations (Southern Guinea Savanna and Rainforest agro-ecological zones of Nigeria), subplot factor consisted of 1.5 kg a.i.ha-1 and 0.0 kg a.i.ha-1 of carbofuran, while the sub-sub-plot factor comprised of three endosperm types of maize (flint, pop and sweet corn). Stem borer infestation (quantified by dead heart count and larval population per plant) and damage (quantified by %lodged stem, %bored internodes, %bored ears, number of exit holes, number of stem borer cavities and number of damaged seeds per plant) as well as yield were compared. Results revealed that borer infestation and damage were significantly higher (P 0.05) location × carbofuran × maize type and location × maize type effect was detected. However, significant (P < 0.05) location × carbofuran and carbofuran × maize type interaction effects were observed. We conclude that in both agro ecologies, flint corn was more tolerant of borer attack while sweet corn was more susceptible compared to either flint or popcorn. In addition, carbofuran at 1.5 kg a.i.ha-1 can significantly reduce stem borer population in the three maize types.
Highlights
Expansion in the cultivation of flint, pop and sweet endosperm types of maize in Nigeria is increasingly becoming inevitable given government’s ban on continued importation of food grains
S. calamistis was in abundance with a higher population of the borer was recovered in the Rainforest zone compared to the Southern Guinea Savanna zone
A. ignefusalis was not encountered in flint corn in the Southern Guinea Savanna zone and in all the maize types evaluated in the Rainforest zone
Summary
Expansion in the cultivation of flint, pop and sweet endosperm types of maize in Nigeria is increasingly becoming inevitable given government’s ban on continued importation of food grains. The larval stage may last 25-58 days and may have 6-8 instars [20]. At the early stages of plant growth, damage to the growing point causes ‘dead heart’. Borer damage causes early leaf senescence, reduced translocation, lodging, direct damage to ears and increment in the incidence off stalk rot and ear rot diseases, sometimes resulting to significant yield losses [25, 4]. The severity and nature of stem borer damage depend upon the borer species, the plant growth stage, the number of larvae feeding on the plant, and the plant's reaction to borer feeding [4, 17]. Yield losses caused by maize borers in Africa have been estimated to range from 10 - 100 % [4]
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