Role of physical characteristics of the seed in the resistance of local cultivars of maize to Sitophilus zeamais infestation in storage

The resistance of three local cultivars (Coma, Ogbia muno and Bende) of maize toSitophilus zeamais varied significantly with respect to testa thickness, seed size and kernel hardness. More F1 adult beetles developed and more grains were damaged in Coma, which had small seeds with thin testae and soft kernels, than in Bende, composed of large seeds with thick testae and hard kernels. Although Ogbia muno seeds were larger and harder than those of Bende, it supported more F1 adult beetles and suffered more seed damage. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd