Chinese Journal of Entomology (1991) 11, 300-308

T.S. Liu, W.J. Wang and Y.S. Wang (1991)
Factors responsible for the occurrence of rice stem borer in Taichung Area
Chinese Journal of Entomology 11 (4), 300-308
Abstract: Surveys revealed that ca. 4000 hectare of rice paddy in central and west Changhua prefecture had been heavily ingested by rice stem borer (Chilo suppressalis) in the past few years, while the infestation of rice fields in other areas had been less serious. Populations of this inesct pest between these two situations could vary up to 10-fold. Several environmental factors factors and cultural practices are responsible for this difference. In heavily infested areas, wheat areas, wheat and green pea had heen the inter-crops in the winter, and this allowed 11.8-fold rice stem borers to overwinter. The residual stalks left in the field facilitated the emergence and egg-laying of adult stem borers to attack the first rice crop. More than 85% of the rice fields which were heavily infested had been planted with the susceptible cultivar Taichung 10 and glutinous rice. On the contrary, 80% of the lightly infested fields had been planted with the more resistant cultivars, i.e. Tainung 67, Tainung 70, Taichung 189, etc. In addition, some farmers in the heavily infested areas still reared their own rice seedlings for transplanting, resulting in the borers laying eggs in these scattered seedling beds. Farmers in lightly infested areas all received their seedlings from the supplying centers which took control measures more effectively. From the above obeservations, we suggest that in beavily infested areas, 1) residual rice stalks should be removed immediately and the soil should be submerged in water, 2) borer-resistant cultivars should be panted, 3) only seedlings from the supply centers should be used. These measures should reduce the occurrence of the rice stem borer to the extent that less insecticide is needed for its control.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Chilo suppressalis	Rice (Oryza)	Taiwan