Reaction of Sub-Tropical, Foreign and Wild Genome Introgressed Sugarcane Hybrids against Stalk Borer, Chilo auricilious Dudgeon

Reaction of Sub-Tropical, Foreign and Wild Genome Introgressed Sugarcane Hybrids against Stalk Borer, Chilo auricilious Dudgeon

Two hundred ninety eight sugarcane genetic resources including 129 varieties, 109 exotic clones, 21 inter-specific hybrids (ISH) and 39 inter-generic hybrids (IGH) were screened against stalk borer under field condition at Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Regional Centre, Karnal during year 2011-13. The percent incidence of stalk borer varied from 2.38 to 70.00% while the infestation index varied from 0.18 to 12.95. None of the studied germplasm was free from stalk borer infestation, however 10.85% varieties, 37.61% exotic (foreign hybrids) clones, 28.57% in ter-specific hybrids and 69.23% inter-generic hybrids were least susceptible to stalk borer (infestation index was <2.00). Among the intergeneric hybrids all 26 CYM/CYMA clones (Erianthus arundinaceus and Saccharum spontaneum cyto-nuclear genome introgressed near commercial hybrids), were least susceptible to stalk borer infestation than the released varieties, exotic clones and inter-specific hybrids. The nature of adherence of leaf sheath, stalk length, stalk diameter, sucrose%, sucrose maturity, fibre% did not exert influence on the incidence of stalk borer.