Susceptibility of Twelve Genotypes of Triticale to the Rice Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and the Lesser Grain Borer (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)²

Population development by the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and feeding damage caused by the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), were assessed on twelve triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) genotypes maintained at 25°C and at 11.7 or 14.2% moisture content. Among genotypes at 14.2% moisture content, total progeny production by the rice weevil ranged from 7.1 (GA82014) to 8.8 (87AB13541) weevils per female-day; mean time to adult emergence ranged from 35.5 (GA82014) to 36.9 days (87AB13541 and CT4699); and rate of emergence (a measure of the slope of the cumulative emergence curve at the average emergence day) ranged from 0.59 (87AB 13541) to 0.72 (‘Morrison’). Although there were some statistical differences among these population growth parameters on different triticale genotypes, all genotypes were at least as susceptible as the long grain brown rice (Oryza sativa L.) and soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cultivar ‘Florida 302’) controls tested concurrently. Development time of rice weevils was significantly delayed and total progeny production after 65 days was reduced about 17-fold on triticale genotypes at 11.7% moisture content.

About 3-fold more frass was produced by lesser grain borers feeding for 7 days at 25°C on triticale genotypes at 14.2% moisture content compared to that obtained on genotypes at 11.7% moisture content. Significantly more feeding and frass production by lesser grain borers occurred on triticale and wheat than occurred on rice.