Thirty varieties of hybrid maize, Zea mays L., were obtained from J. Brewbaker, University of Hawaii, for testing over a two year period in Guam’s humid tropical environment against Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée and other insect pests. Planted in an RCB design with two replications and maintained under a double dripline fertigation system, growth data were collected on each variety until tassling. Visual inspections were periodically made to assess species and extent of insect infestation. The number O. furnacalis infestations were tabulated in the tassle and along the stem of ten stalks randomly chosen from each replication, and the percentage of stalks infested determined. The number and weight of ears was determined for each variety. Differences in O. furnacalis infestation were observed between varieties, with the Hawaiian supersweet hybrids generally outperforming crosses with field corn cultivars and a transformed Bt variety. Protaetia orientalis (Gory & Percheron), the oriental flower beetle, was a significant pest across varieties during the second year of testing when O. furnacalis populations were low. Other pests, including Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), were present but caused insignificant damage.
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