An Assessment of Loss Caused by Chilo partellus to Maize in Pakistan

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Abstract
Three hundred maize plants (var. ‘Neelum’) were grown in each of six plots in spring and autumn. In three of these a natural population of Chilo partellus (Swinh.) was allowed to build up, while from the remaining three plots eggs were removed daily to eliminate the effect of C. partellus on maize yield. The difference in yield calculated on this basis was 2,121 kg/ha in spring when 25.2% plants were infested and 2,860 kg/ha in autumn when 33% plants were infested. The major loss in grain yield was due to ‘dead hearts’ and stunting of growth rather than tunnelling by C partellus larvae.