Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of quality protein maize inbred lines for resistance to maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: curculionidae) and other important agronomic traits

  • Published:
Euphytica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Searching new sources of resistance to the maize weevil are critical in a successful breeding program to address grain damage by postharvest pests. This study was undertaken to evaluate resistance in 28 quality protein maize (QPM) inbred lines against Sitophilus zeamais infestation and their important agronomic attributes, and consequently their value for use in breeding programs to develop resistant QPM hybrids. Susceptibility index (SI), which considers the progeny number in the F1 generation and the time the insects take to mature from egg to adult, was used to measure the susceptibility. Out of the 28 inbred lines tested, one inbred line (CML-142) was resistant, three (CML-144/144-7-b (F2)-4-2-1-1-1-1-1, POOL 15QPFS-693-B-2-B-#-B-B-B-# and CML-149) were moderately resistant and the remaining 24 inbred lines were categorized as susceptible to highly susceptible. Importantly, those inbred lines that are resistant and moderately resistant had better yield and other agronomic performances as compared to the susceptible ones. These resistant and moderately resistant inbred lines showed considerable reduction in grain damage and losses for S. zeamais, suggesting that they contained genes that confer resistance to the pest. Correlations between kernel size, breadth and texture with some important susceptibility parameters were found to be significant, indicating possible influence of these factors together with others in determining the susceptibility of the QPM inbred lines to S. zeamais. Identification of QPM lines resistant to S. zeamais in the present study offers an opportunity to breed for resistance to maize weevil in developing QPM hybrid with enhanced resistance to S. zeamais.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abebe F, Tefera T, Mugo S, Beyene Y, Vidal S (2009) Resistance of maize varieties to the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.) (Coleoptera: curculionidae). Afr J Biotech 8(21):5937–5943

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams JM, Schulten GGM (1978) Loss caused by insects, mites and micro-organisms. In: Harris KL, Lindblad CJ (eds) Post-Harvest Grain Loss Assessment Methods. American Association of Cereal Chemists, USA, pp 83–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander DE, Creech RG (1977) Breeding special industrial and nutritional types. In: Sprague GF (ed) Corn and Corn Improvement. American Soci Agron Madison, WI, U.S.A, pp 363–389

    Google Scholar 

  • Altieri MA, Nicholls CI (2003) Soil fertility management and insect pests: harmonizing soil and plant health in agroecosystems. Soil Till. Res. 72:203–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnason JT, Lambert JDH, Gale J, Mihm J, Bjarnason M, Jewell DC, Serratos JA, Fregeau-Reid J, Pietrzak L (1993) Is quality protein maize more susceptible than the normal lines to attack by maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais? Postharvest Bio Techno 2:349–358

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aruna I, Lakshmi K, Ratnasudhakar T (2009) Varietal preference studies of paddy varieties against Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) in relation to physical parameters. J Entomol Res 33:297–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergvinson DJ (2001) Storage pest resistance in maize. In: Maize Program Maize Research Highlights 1999-2000. CIMMYT, Mexico D.F., Mexico, pp. 32-39

  • Bjarnason M, Vasal SK (1992) Breeding of quality protein maize (QPM). Plant Breed Revi 9:181–216

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Demissie G (2014) Biology and Management of Angoumois Grain Moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) through host plant resistance and inert dusts in stored maize. Dissertation, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, India. 140p

  • Demissie G, Tefera T, Tadesse A (2008a) Importance of Husk Covering on Field Infestation of Maize by Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. (Coleoptera: curculionidea) at Bako, Western Ethiopia. Afr J Biotech 7(20):3774–3779

    Google Scholar 

  • Demissie G, Teshom A, Abakemal D, Tadesse A (2008b) Cooking oils and ‘‘Triplex’’ in the control of Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: curculionidae) in farm-stored maize. J Stored Prod Res 44:173–178

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Demissie G, Bitew T, Berhanu T, Teshome K, Tende R, Tefera T, Mugo S (2014) Response of the popular maize cultivars in Ethiopia to stem borers and post-harvest pests. Abstract. A paper presented on End-of IRMA III Conference “Consolidating Experiences from IRMA I, II and III: Achievements, Lessons and Prospects” IRMA Project Document No. 17. 23 – 27 February 2014, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Derera J, Pixley KV, Giga DP, Makanda I (2014) Resistance of maize to the maize weevil: III. Grain weight loss assessment and implications for breeding. J Stored Prod Res 59:24–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dimler RJ (1966) Report on kernel structure and wet milling of high lysine corn. High Lysine Corn Conference, 1966, Purdue University. Washington, D.C, Corn Refiners Association, pp 121–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobie P (1978) The susceptibility of triticale to postharvest infestation by Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Sitophilus runcates (L.). J Stored Prod Res 14:87–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gomez LA, Rodriguez JG, Poneleit CG, Blake DF, Smith CRJ (1983) Influence of nutritional characteristics of selected corn genotypes on food utilization by the rice weevil (Coleoptera: curculionidae). J Econ Entomol 76:728–732

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hossain F, Prasanna MB, Rakesh KS, Pradyumn K, Bir BS (2007) Evaluation of quality protein maize genotypes for resistance to stored grain weevil Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera:curculionidae). Int J Trop Insec Sci 27(2):114–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SK, Kossou D (2003) Responses and genetics of maize germplasm resistant to the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky in West Africa. J Stored Prod Res 39:489–505

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SK, Brewbaker JL, Hallauer AR (1988) Insect and disease resistance from tropical maize for use in temperate zone hybrids, pp. 194–226. In Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Corn/Sorghum Research Conference, American Seed Trade Association, Washington DC, USA

  • Kossou DK, Mareck J, Bosque-Perez N (1993) Comparison of improved and local maize varieties in the Republic of Benin with emphasis on susceptibility to Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky. J Stored Prod Res 29:333–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lale NES, Kartay MO (2006) Role of physical characteristics of the seed in the resistance of local cultivars of maize to Sitophilus zeamais infestation storage. Trop Sci 46:1–3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mertz ET, Bates LS, Nelson OE (1964) Mutant gene that changes protein composition and increases lysine content of maize endosperm (Washington). Science 145:279–280

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mwololo JK, Mugo S, Tefera T, Munyiri SW (2013) Evaluation of traits of resistance to postharvest insect pests in tropical maize. Int J Agric Crop Sci 6(13):926–933

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira EE, Guedes RNC, Totola MR, De Marco P (2007) Competition between insecticide-susceptible and resistant population of the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais. Chemosphere 69:17–24

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ortega A, De Leon C, Granados G, Vasal, SK (1975) Disease-insect interactions in quality protein maize, pp. 173–192. In High Quality Protein Maize (Edited by L. F. Bauman). Hutchinson Ross Publishing Co., Stroudsburg, PA, USA

  • Prasanna BM, Vasal SK, Kassahun B, Singh NN (2001) Quality protein maize. Curr Sci 81:1308–1319

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ribeiro BM, Guedes RNC, Oliveira EE, Santos JP (2003) Insecticide resistance and synergism in Brazilian population of Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: curculionidae). J Stored Prod Res 39:21–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santos JP, Guimaraes PEO, Waquil JM, Foster JE (1996) Resistance to maize weevil in quality protein maize lines and commercial corn hybrids. Resist Pest Manage 8:52–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos JP, Guimaraes PEO, Waquil JM, Foster JE (2006) Relative index of susceptibility to the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, among some QPM corn lines. Revista Brasileira de Milhoe Sorgo 5(2):159–169

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS (2004). SAS Statistical Users Guide, Statistical analysis system. SAS Institute Inc. Carry

  • Siwale J, Mbata K, Mcrobert J, Lungu D (2009) Comparative resistance of improved maize genotypes and Landraces to maize weevil. Afr Crop Sci J 17:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Tadesse A (2003) Studies on some non-chemical insect pest management options on farm-stored maize in Ethiopia. Dissertation, Giessen University, Germany

  • Tefera T, Demissie G, Mugo S, Beyene Y (2013a) Yield and agronomic performance of maize hybrids resistant to the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais motschulsky (Coleoptera:curculionidae). Crop Prot 46:94–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tefera T, Mugo S, Beyene Y, Karaya H, Gokunga J, Demissie G (2013b) Post harvest insect pest and foliar disease resistance and agronomic performance of new maize hybrids in East Africa. Int J Plant Breed Genet 10:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Tipping PW, Rodriguez JG, Poneleit CG, Legg DE (1988) Resistance of dent corn inbreds to oviposition by the maize weevil. J Kansas Entomol Socie 61:131–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Tollenar M, Dwyer LM (1999) Physiology of maize. In: Smith DL, Hamel C (eds) Crop yield, physiology and processes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Vasal SK, Srinivasan G, Pandey S, Gonzalez CF, Crossa J (1993) Heterosis and combining ability of CIMMYT’s quality protein maize germplasm: i lowland tropical. Crop Sci 33:46–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vowotor KA, Meikle WG, Ayertey JN, Markham RH (2005) Distribution and association between the larger grain borer Prostephanus runcates (Horn) and the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky in maize stores. J Stored Prod Res 41:498–512

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wheatley PE (1973) Relative susceptibility of maize varieties (London). Tropical Stored Product Information 25:16–18

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by CIMMYT coordinated Nutritional Maize for Ethiopia (NuME) project funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. Their financial support is gratefully acknowledged. All technical staffs of Maize Protection, Bako National Maize Research Centre, are recognized for their assistance during field trail and laboratory experimental set-up and data collection. This work is a collaborative research undertaken between the CIMMYT-Ethiopia and the EIAR, Bako National Maize Research Centre.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Bako National Maize Research Coordinating Centre, P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Girma Demissie, Bitew Tilahun & Midekissa Dida

  2. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, CIMMYT-Ethiopia ILRI Sholla Campus, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Adefiris Teklewold & Dagne Wegary

Authors
  1. Girma Demissie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bitew Tilahun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Midekissa Dida
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Adefiris Teklewold
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Dagne Wegary
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Girma Demissie.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Demissie, G., Tilahun, B., Dida, M. et al. Evaluation of quality protein maize inbred lines for resistance to maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: curculionidae) and other important agronomic traits. Euphytica 205, 137–150 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-015-1412-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-015-1412-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation