Relationship between successive dates of sowing maize and Stem borer damage in Central Uganda.

Relationship between time of planting maize (Zea mays L.) and damage by stem bores (Lepidoptera) was investigated. Early planted maize was vulnerable to stem borer attack and exhibited significantly higher foliar and stem damage, although late planted maize had a proportion of damaged cobs. Mid-planted maize exhibited moderate damge. The 21 day infested crop was significantly more tunnelled than other plantings. No differences in tunnel length were observed in the 50 day infested crop. Maize infested at 21 days after emergence suffered higher yield loss than maize infested 50 days after emergence. Overall the results suggest that time of planting has little influence on stem borer damage.