VARIETAL DIFFERENCES IN THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF NEW RICE FOR AFRICA (NERICA) TO SITOPHILUS ORYZAE L. (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)

Abstract

Eight new rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties obtained from the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) in Ghana were investigated for their relative susceptibilities to infestation by Sitophilus oryzae L., an important storage pest of milled rice. The completely randomized design was used to obtain data on the infestation and damage indices such as egg oviposition, developmental period, progeny emergence, seed weight loss, and susceptibility index. Overall, the varieties arranged in a descending order of susceptibility were NERICA [N] 8, N3, N5, N2, N1, N4, N9 and N6. NERICAs 9 and 6 consistently, demonstrated high tolerance to S. oryzae infestation and damage. These varieties should be incorporated into breeding programmes to help reduce the high grain losses incurred by farmers during storage.