Sorghum shootfly, Atherigona soccata, oviposition and infestation on eight resistant sorghum cultivars (IS nos: 2122,2123, 2205, 2291, 4660, 5092, 5480 and 18551) and two susceptible cultivars (Serena and CSH-1), were studied under field conditions (natural infestation). The eight resistant cultivars and CSH-1 were also tested for preference for oviposition in a two-choice situation in the screenhouse. The eight resistant cultivars received considerably less shootfly eggs and showed fewer “dead hearts” than the susceptible cultivars. The results indicate that non-preference for oviposition is an important mechanism for resistance to shootfly in eight test cultivars. There was also evidence for a certain degree of antibiosis in IS 2291.
