Resistance to Stem Borers (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Among Texas Rice Cultivars

Abstract

A 4-yr field study was conducted to assess the resistance of rice, Oryza sativa L., cultivars to injury from the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), and the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (both Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Several cultivars showed reduced levels of injury ('CLXL8', 'XL8', 'Wells', 'Cheniere', and 'XP710' in 2003; CLXL8, XP723, Cheniere, and 'CL161' in 2004) and lower stem borer yield loss (CLXL8 in 2004) than the more susceptible 'Priscilla'. The resistant CLXL8 also had less injury and yield loss in 2004 and higher yield in 2003 than 'Cocodrie', currently the most popular rice cultivar in Texas and Louisiana. Linear regression analyses between whiteheads and main crop rice yield showed steeper negative slopes for the more resistant cultivars than the more susceptible cultivars, indicating a greater yield loss per whitehead on the resistant cultivars. Compensation from insect injury likely explains the positive associations established in our study between main crop yield and whiteheads for some cultivars. Cultivar resistance is anticipated to become a major control tactic in reducing infestations of E. loftini and D. saccharalis in the Texas and Louisiana rice industries.

Performance and preference of sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis, on rice cultivars

“…IRRI (1970) studied resistance of a common set of varieties against four species of stem borer and observed similar levels of resistance among all cultivars against the four stem borer species. Consistent with these studies, Way et al (2006) conducted a study to assess the resistance of rice cultivars in an area in which both sugarcane borers and Mexican rice borers were present. Oliver & Gifford (1974) observed that larval growth and development of two stem borer species varied among rice varieties, but larval response to different rice varieties was similar for both C. plejadellus and D. saccharalis.…”

“…The cultivar Priscilla, which is not widely grown in Louisiana, was included in experiments as a susceptible standard (Way et al, 2006). Plants for all experiments were grown in a greenhouse located on the campus of LSU, Baton Rouge.…”

“…In the late 1960s, Pathak (1969) and other scientists at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI, Los Baños, The Philippines) screened over 10 000 rice lines for resistance to Chilo suppressalis (Walker) and identified 20 varieties with usable levels of resistance. More recently, Way et al (2006) conducted a study to assess the resistance of rice cultivars against sugarcane borer and the Mexican rice borer and they observed significant differences among cultivars in terms of injury and yield losses. Later in the 1970s, moderate resistance was introduced into a large number of varieties released by IRRI (Khush, 1989).…”