KARI-Embu Centre Highlights(2006)

Abstract

Maize germ plasm known to posses moderate to high levels of resistance to stemborers were collected and prescreened for their resistance under conditions of borer species during the previous phases of the Co-ordinated Ecosystem Breeding (CEB) project. Briefly, the lines were allowed to germinate and at the 6th leaf stage, are artificially infested with eggs at the black head or the 1st instar larval stages. A batch of 15-20 eggs or larvae is put in the plant whorl. The newly hatched Chilo and Busseola larvae are allowed to feed and cause damage for a period of two weeks.