Effect of Damage by Stalk-Eyed Fly (Diopsis Thoracica) on Yield Components of Rice

Abstract

SUMMARYRice varieties were compared for their response to infestation by the stalk-eyed fly, Diopsis thoracica (West), both when a choice of varieties was available to the pest and when there was no choice. The fly significantly decreased the number of panicles produced (both total and mature), the percentage of tillers with panicles, grain weight and total yield of unprotected plants, and increased the number of immature panicles and time to 50% flowering. Reductions in grain yield of between 2 and 97% were recorded but these losses were unrelated to the percentage of damaged tillers. Production of new tillers did not fully compensate for damaged ones in most varieties. However, photoperiod-sensitive rice varieties were better able to compen- sate for pest damage than most.