Sitophilus weevil reaction in upland rice elite lines

Abstract

Insects of the genus Sitophilus are among the most destructive pests in rice storage, and the best strategy to control it is to use resistant genotypes. In this study, 26 upland rice elite lines were evaluated for Sitophilus weevil reaction on grain weight. The seeds were placed in plastic recipients stored in a room with temperature and lightning simulating a warehouse environment. The number of living weevils and the grain weight were obtained in two evaluations, one 35 days after storage, and the other 35 days after infestation. The lines differed statistically for number of living weevils and for grain weight in both evaluations. The correlations between these two characters were −0.99 and −0.47 for the first and the second evaluation (P < 0.05), respectively. The lines BRS Pepita, AB 112089 and AB 112090 were the most susceptible. Seventeen of the twenty-six elite lines were resistant in both evaluations and could be successfully used in upland rice breeding programs.