Field experiments were conducted each of three years in Beaumont, Texas to evaluate the tolerance and compensatory response to sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis F.) injury of rice cultivars (Cocodrie, Francis, and Jefferson) at different crop growth stages (3rd tiller stage, panicle differentiation stage, and heading stage).

A Latin-Square split plot field experiment design were used in each year. Rice plants were artificially infested with sugarcane borer eggs at each of the three selected stages. With the same infestation level, the least amount of injury were obtained at the 3rd tiller stage. The greatest amount of injury was obtained at the panicle differentiation stage for Cocodrie and Jefferson, and at the heading stage for Francis. Leaf and leaf sheath injury did not result in yield loss. On the contrary, tillers with leaf and leaf sheath injured in early vegetative stages showed the potential of producing larger panicle and greater yield comparing to the uninjured tillers. Stem injury either killed the injured tiller or partially reduced the tiller yield. Tillers with stem injured in early vegetative stage suffered the greatest chance of mortality. For stem injured tillers that survived to the harvest, the greatest yield reduce were obtained when injury occurred at the panicle differentiation stage. Rice partially or fully compensate for the yield reduce due to sugarcane borer injury through producing more reproductive tillers. A descriptive model was provided to evaluate the mechanisms of the compensatory responses of rice to sugarcane borer injury.