Impact of Angoumois Grain Moth, Sitotroga cerealella Olivier (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on the Viability of Maize Seed

The current study was conducted to determine the viability of maize seed infested with Angoumois Grain Moth Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier). The aim was to see how different cultivars of maize are resistant to this pest. Seeds of four cultivars of maize viz. Pop 2006, Soan, Margalla and Islamabad gold were examined in Stored Product Laboratory of Department of Entomology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi during the year 2009-2010. The Pop-2006 appeared susceptible for S. cerealella egg hatching with 91.66% hatchability and minimum percent hatchability in Margla with 89.33%. Maximum and minimum percent infestation 9.30 ± 0.35 and 6.30 ± 0.58 in Islamabad gold and Pop 2006 respectively. Results indicated that maximum percent grain losses in Islamabad gold and minimum in Pop 2006, i.e. 51.91 ± 1.91, and 30.06 ± 0.70 (mean ± SE) respectively. The cultivars Pop 2006 and Marglla are considered as important part in IPM tools to control the store grain losses in maize crop. Present study was conducted to evaluate the resistance of different maize cultivars against the S. Cerealella. The finding may improve the good quality store of the products with minimal use of synthetic chemicals.