Bio-chemical basis of resistance to stem borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) infesting forage sorghum, Sorghum bicolour (L.) Moench

Abstract

The results on biochemical characters of resistance to stem borer revealed that varieties AFS-28 and SSG-59-3 found to be resistant exhibiting less mean per cent dead hearts i.e. 67.00 and 67.00 percent. The varieties AFS-32, MP Chari and COFS-29 found to be highly susceptible to stem borer incidence exhibiting cent per cent dead hearts on 44 days after emergence (3rd week of August). The correlation between infestation level and biochemical characters was significant except fat, hemicellulose and HCN. The percentage of cellulose, lignin, ADF, NDF, crude fibre, dry matter, ash, silica, phosphorus, calcium, total phenol and polyphenol were significantly highly negatively correlated with infestation level, indicating that fall in these factors caused increase in the pest population. However, percentage of moisture, organic matter, nitrogen and crude protein were highly significantly positively correlated with infestation level, indicating that rise in these factors caused increase in the pest population.