Differential response of wheat cultivars to grain damage by Rice Weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract

The studies on screening of 15 varieties of wheat viz., WH 1105, WH 1124, WH 1142, WH 283, WH 542, WH 711, WH 1080, WH 1025, WH 157, DBW 17, DPW 62150, HD 2967, PBW 343, C 306 and WH 147 for ovipositional preference (choice and no choice test), adult emergence and grain damage (number and weight basis both) by S. oryzae were carried out under laboratory conditions during August to October, 2017. Results revealed that the minimum oviposition (166.67 eggs per 250 grains), adult emergence (66.68 adults) and lowest grain damage (14.12 and 5.65% on number and weight loss basis, respectively) were recorded in variety C 306. The highly preferred variety for oviposition (368.78 eggs per 250 grains), adult emergence (118.33 adults) and grain damage (25.53 and 9.84% on number and weight loss basis, respectively) was WH 147. It was also observed that none of the wheat variety was free from infestation of S. oryzae. However, varieties WH 283, WH 711, DBW 17, WH 1080 and WH 157 were found moderately suitable. Varieties WH 2967, WH 542 and WH 1025 were found less preferred and varieties WH 1105, WH 1124, WH 1142, and C 306 were least preferred, whereas WH 147 was found to be most preferred as the number of eggs, number of adults emerged, grain loss (%) and weight loss (%) was maximum followed by DPW 62150 and PBW 343.