The impact of yellow stem-borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), on deepwater rice, with special reference to Bangladesh

Abstract

AbstractUsing several methods, claims that stem-borers, especially Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker), cause serious crop loss in deepwater rice were tested in Bangladesh. Insecticides were used to control different borer broods. Early season, pre-flood applications reduced infestation, but did not affect yield. One to three mid- to late-season applications of monocrotophos at 250 g a.i./ha significantly reduced infestation and/or whitehead numbers, with yield savings (7-10%) similar to those which earlier workers obtained by applying diazinon 20 times in a season. In each of six years, tiller populations peaked before flooding, then steadily declined until harvest, but stem-borer infestation varied, remaining low until late season in two of the years. In 1981, infestation lower than 24% pre-flood and 42% at harvest did not affect yield. In 1982, eighty-four correlation calculations showed no consistent significant effects of infestation (27-60%, C.V. 40%) on yield (25 000 stems were dissected). Anatomical studies of elongated stems revealed S. incertulas feeding neither causes significant structural damage nor seriously interrupts nutrient flow; also, the passage of a larva through a nodal septum is not detrimental. Irrespective of stem-borer attack, the submerged lower internodes commonly die, the fibrous remains anchor the upper stem, and nodal roots take over nutrient uptake. Studies of panicle-bearing stems (n = 838) showed that, even with 97% stem infestation, most yield loss results from infestation of the terminal internode and is manifested predominantly as whiteheads. In a specific study, 94% whiteheads (n = 205) were associated with terminal internode infestation, where larval feeding in the narrow stem had disrupted food conduction, so preventing grain-filling. The apparent tolerance of S. incertulas by deepwater rice varieties is consistent with their being a primitive group of cultivated rices.