VDM Verlag Stemborer infestation on maize plants treated with Salicylic Acid: Rate of stemborer infestation on maize after various levels of salicylic Acid application

To determine the effect of salicylic acid on infestation and damage on maize by stem borers, different doses of salicylic acid (0.5 g, 1.0 g, 2.0 g and 4.0 g each in 1.0 L of H2O, 1.0 g in 100L of H2O/ha, 200g in 100L of H2O /ha, 400g in 100L of H2O /ha and 0g of SA as the control) were dissolved in water and sprayed on the leaves of maize plants for five times, at 10-day intervals, starting 10 days after germination until 60 days of the plant growth. The experiment was conducted in both the major and the minor seasons of the year 2009, with a split plot design; with fertilizer and without fertilizer, with four replications. The results indicated that salicylic acid appeared to have no effects on both the stem borer infestations levels and grain yield of the maize. Busseola fusca formed the majority of the stem borer larvae in the maize in both seasons, and the fertilized crops appeared to have attracted more stem borers than the unfertilized crops. This work will help improve the knowledge base in the area of crop protection.