Sixty selected rice varieties were tested for resistance to damage by the African striped borer, Chilo zacconius. Artificial infestation with first instar larvae in screenhouse showed that Lac 23 (white), IR 2035-120-3, 1R 4625-132-1-2, Colombia 1 and N 21-1 had significantly low “dead hearts” and larval survival. Damage was also low when these varieties were exposed to adults in the screenhouse and in the field. Both local and exotic varieties possessed resistance. Antibiosis conferred resistance to the borer in the varieties screened.
