SUSCEPTIBILIDAD EN HÍBRIDOS DE MAÍZ A DIABRÓTICA (Diabrotica virgifera zeae) EN MÉXICO * MAIZE HYBRIDS SUSCEPTIBILITY TO MEXICAN CORN ROOTWORM (Diabrotica virgifera zeae) IN MEXICO

Mexican corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera zeae is an important root pests of maize in Cienega de Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico. A study was conducted during 1995 with and without chemical control to determine the level of susceptibility of 16 commercial maize hybrids to the attack D. virgifera zeae. Susceptibility reaction was analized by principal components and discriminant analysis. Measured traits included root damage, lodging percentage, leaves per plant, plant height, fi nal number of plants and yield. In addition, samples of larvae were taken in the experimental plots and differences between plots with and without control were determined. Tolerant maize hybrids were H-357, Cargill 820, Pioneer 3066 and Pioneer 3002, while the most susceptible hybrids were: H-355, H-358, Cargill 220, Cargill 381 and Asgrow 791. There was variation in the susceptibility of the tested hybrids to Mexican corn rootworm. Tolerant hybrids can be used in the regions of Jalisco with severe losses associated with the studied root pests.