Correlation between proximate chemical composition and insect pests of maize cultivars in Peshawar

Abstract

The present study wasrnconducted at Agronomy Research Farm (ARF), The University of Agriculture,rnPeshawar (UAP), Pakistan during 2015. Seven maize cultivars, namely Azam,rnJalal, Babar, Pahari, Iqbal, Climax 3055 and Climax 30M62 were tested. Resultsrnof the proximate chemical composition of maize cultivars showed the moisturernpercentage in the range of 9.59%-12.27%. Similarly ash content was recorded inrnthe range of 0.83%-1.13%, crude fats of 2.65% -2.97%, crude protein in thernrange of 10.03%-1.96%, fiber of 0.89%-1.37% while carbohydrates content ofrn71.12%-75.31% respectively. From the correlation matrices of the insect pestsrndensities with biochemical characters, minimum moisture percentage, minimumrnprotein content, higher ash content were proved to have contribution forrnresistance in maize cultivars against the insect pest attack. From therninformation mentioned above, the maize cultivar Climax 3055 was provedrnresistant while Pahari was proved susceptible cultivar among the seven testedrnmaize cultivars.