Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T19:44:43.490Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Yield of Maize in Relation to Natural Field Infestations and Damage by Lepidopteran Borers in the Forest and Forest/Savanna Transition Zones of Cameroon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

R. Ndemah  and
F. Schulthess
R. Ndemah
Affiliation:
Institut de la Recherche Agronomique et de Developpement, PB 2067, Messa, Yaoundé, Cameroon E-mail: rosendem@hotmail.com
F. Schulthess
Affiliation:
Plant Health Management Division (PHMD), Biological Control Center for Africa, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Cotonou, 08 BP 0932 Tripostale, Republic of Benin
Get access

Abstract

The effect of infestation of lepidopteran borers on yield of maize was assessed at three locations in the forest and forest/savanna transition zones of Cameroon, during the first and second season of 1992. Maize was treated once or twice with the systemic carbofuran at different developmental stages. The species encountered were the stem-boring noctuids Busseola fusca and Sesamia calamistis, which oviposit on and attack pre-tasseling stages of maize; the stem-boring pyralid Eldana saccharina, which attacks plants at and after tasseling; and two ear borers, namely the pyralid Mussidia nigrivenella and the tortricid Cryptophlebia leucotreta. Generally, carbofuran reduced infestations by B. fusca and S. calamistis but had little or no effect on species attacking the plant's later stages. Thus early treatments with granules into the whorl were more efficient than late treatments as a side dressing, and a second late treatment had little effect. During the first season, late-attacking species were predominant and grain yield losses of 17–44 % were found in one location only. During the second season, species attacking young plants (mainly B. fusca) became predominant in all three locations and yield losses of 30 to 41 % were found in two of the three locations. The percentage of ears with damage was especially high during the second season. As green maize is an important source of cash income in the area and damaged ears cannot be sold, the economic loss was likely considerable.

Resumé

L'effet d'infestation des lepidoptères foreurs des tiges et épis sur le rendement de maiïs a été evalué à trois sites dans les zones de forêt et de la transition forêt/savanne du Cameroun, pendant la première et deuxième saison de pluies de 1992. Le maïs a été traité une ou deux fois à des differentes stades de developpement avec l'insecticide systémique carbofuran. Les espèces rencontrées etaient les noctuides foreurs des tiges Busseola fusca et Sesamia calamistis qui pontent leurs oeufs et attacquent le maïs en pre-floraison; le pyralide foreurs des tiges Eldana saccharina, qui attacque les plantes en et après la floraison; et deux foreurs d'épis; le pyralide Mussidia nigrivenella et le tortricide Cryptophlebia leucotreta. En genérale, le carbofuran a reduit l'infestations par B. Fusca et S. calamistis mais avait peu ou pas d'effet sur les espèces attacquant la plante tard. En effet, les traitements avec les granules dans le cornet avant la floraison etaient plus efficaces que les traitements dans le sol à cóté du pocquet après la floraison et une deuxième traitement avait peu d'effet. Pendant la premiere saison les espèces qui attacquent tards etaient abondantes et les pertes en graines de 17–44% ont été aperçues dans une seul site. Pendant la deuxième saison, les espèces attacquants les jeunes plantes (essentiallement B. fusca) sont devenues abondantes dans toutes les trois sites et les pertes de 30 à 41% ont etaient perçues en deux des trois sites. Le pourcentage des épis avec degats etaient significativement élevés pendant la deuxième saison. Comme le maïs frais est une source important dans la region et des épis attacqués ne peu être vendus, la perte economique etait importante.

Keywords

stemboreryield lossmaizeBusseola fuscaEldana saccharinaSesamia calamistisMussidia nigrivenellacarbofuranforeur de tigeperte de rendementmaisBusseola fuscaEldana saccharinaSesamia calamistisMussidia nigrivenellaCryptophlebia leucotreta
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 22 , Issue 3 , September 2002 , pp. 183 - 192
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Akinwumi, A.A. and Coulibaly, O.N. (1996) Policy and competitiveness of agroforestry-based technologies for maize production in the western highlands of Cameroon: An application of policy analysis matrix. Paper submitted for presentation at the XXIII International Conference of Agricultural Economists. August 10–16, Sacramento, California.Google Scholar
Akoa, A. (1994) La production du maïs dans les organisations paysannes de la zone forestière du Cameroun: Un exemple de chantier – école. Actes du Séminaire «Maïs Prospère» 25–28 Janvier, Cotonou, Benin.Google Scholar
Almy, S.W., Besong, M.T. and Bakia, B. (1990) Food prices in Southwest province. Two years report: 1988–90. Testing and Liaison Unit (TLU), National Cereals Research and Extension (NCRE) project. Institute of Agronomic Research, PMB 25 Buea, S.W.P., Cameroon.Google Scholar
Awono, D. (1981) Inventaire des insectes nuisibles au mai's, au manioc, au bananier dans la region de Yaounde. Mémoire presenté en vue de l'obtention du diplôme d'Ingénieur Agronome. Centre Universitaire de Dschang, Cameroun.Google Scholar
Billong, J. (1986) Contribution à l'étude de la distribution des espèces des borers au maïs de la zone de basse altitude à forte pluviométrie. Mémoire presenté en vue de l'obtention du diplóme d'Ingénieur Agronome. Centre Universitaire de Dschang, Cameroun.Google Scholar
Bosque-Pérez, N.A. and Mareck, J.H. (1991) Effect of the stemborer Eldana saccharina (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on the yield of maize. Bull. Entomol. Res. 81, 243–247.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cardwell, K.F., Kling, J.G., Maziya-Dixon, B. and Bosque-Pérez, N.A. (2000) Interactions between Fusarium verticillioid.es, Aspergillusflavus, and insect infestation in four maize genotypes in lowland Africa. Phytopathology 90, 276–284.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cardwell, K.F., Schulthess, F., Ndemah, R. and Ngoko, Z. (1997) A systems approach to assess crop health and maize yield losses due to pests and diseases in Cameroon. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 65, 33–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Denké, D., Schulthess, E., Bonato, O. and Smith, H. (2000) Effet de la fumure en potassium sur le développement, la survie et la fécondité de Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) et de Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Insect Sci. Applic. 20, 151–156.Google Scholar
Enyong, L.A. (1990) Maize and groundnuts post harvest practices in the Centre province of Cameroon. NCRE Annual Report.Google Scholar
Gounou, S., Schulthess, E., Shanower, T., Hammond, W.N.O., Braima, H., Cudjoe, A.R., Adjakloe, R., Antwi, K.K. and Olaleye, I. (1994) Stem and ear borers of maize in Ghana. Plant Health Management Research Monograph No. 4. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Ibadan, Nigeria.Google Scholar
Harris, K.M. (1962) Lepidopterous stemborers of cereals in Nigeria. Bull. Entomol. Res. 53, 139–171.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McHugh, D. and Kikafunda-Twine, (1995) Ten years of farming systems research in the northwest highlands of Cameroon. Resource and Crop Management Monograph No. 13. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Ibadan, Nigeria.Google Scholar
NCRE Annual Report (1988) National Cereals Research and Extension (NCRE) project. Institute of Agronomic Research. Cameroon.Google Scholar
NCRE Annual Report (1989) National Cereals Research and Extension (NCRE) project. Institute of Agronomic Research. Cameroon.Google Scholar
NCRE Anuual Report (1990) National Cereals Research and Extension (NCRE) project. Institute of Agronomic Research. Cameroon.Google Scholar
Ndemah, R. (1999) Towards developing an integrated crop management strategy for the African stalk borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in maize systems in Cameroon. PhD thesis, Hannover University, Faculty of Horticulture, Institute of Plant Diseases and Plant Protection, Germany. 136 pp.Google Scholar
Ndemah, R., Schulthess, F., Poehling, M., and Borgemeister, C. (2000) Species composition and seasonal dynamics of lepidopterous stem borers on maize and elephant grass, Pennisetum purpureum (Moench) (Poaceae), at two forest margin sites in Cameroon. African Entomology 8, 265–272.Google Scholar
Ndemah, R., Schulthess, E., Korie, S., Borgemeister, C. and Cardwell, K.F. (2001) Distribution, relative importance and effect of lepidopterous borers on maize yields in the Forest Zone and Mid-Altitude of Cameroon. J. Econ. Entomol. (in press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ngoko, Z. (1999) Mycotoxin contamination of maize in relation to insect infestation, agricultural practices and agroecology in the Republic of Cameroon. PhD thesis, 107 pp.Google Scholar
SAS Institute (1997) SAS/STAT Software: Changes and enhancements through Release 6.12. Cary, North Carolina.Google Scholar
Schulthess, F., Cardwell, K.F. and Gounou, S. (2002) The effect of endophytic Fusarium verticillioides on infestation of two maize varieties by lepidopterous stemborers and coleopteran grain feeders. Phytopathology (in press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sèkloka, S. (1996) Contribution à l'étude bioécologique de Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) sur Zea mays L. et les plantes hôtes alternatives. Mémoires Ing. Agr. UNB, Bénin.Google Scholar
Sémeglo, A.K. (1997) Etude comparative de la bioécologie de trois Noctuidae foreurs de tige de céréales (Sesamia calamistis Hampson, S. poephaga Tarns and Bowden and Busseola fusca Fuller) sur Zea mays et quelques Poeaceae sauvages. Mémoires Ingénieur Agronome, Université du Benin, Togo.Google Scholar
Sétamou, M., Cardwell, K.F., Schulthess, E. and Hell, K. (1997) Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination of preharvest maize in Benin. Plant Dis. 81, 1323–1327.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sétamou, M., Cardwell, K.F., Schulthess, E. and Hell, K. (1998) Effect of insect damage to maize ears, with special reference to Mussidia nigrivenella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), on Aspergillus flavus (Deuteromycetes: Monoliales) infection and aflatoxin production in maize before harvest in the Republic of Benin. J. Econ. Entomol. 91, 433–438.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sétamou, M., Schulthess, F., Poehling, H.-M. and Borgemeister, C. (2000) Infestations and damage of maize by Mussidia nigrivenella Ragonot (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Benin, West Africa. J. Econ. Entomol. 93, 650–657.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
TLU Ekona (1988) Annual Report. National Cereals Research and Extension (NCRE) project. Institute of Agronomic Research, Cameroon.Google Scholar
Yatahad, V. (1994) Organisations paysannes et commercialisation du maïs au nord du Cameroun. Actes du Séminaire «Mai's Prospère» 25–28 Janvier, Cotonou, Benin.Google Scholar