Evaluation of stem borers teneral reserve concentration and their effects on proximate composition and yield parameter of maize in agro-ecological Zone B, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

Maize is a major source of carbohydrate and other beneficial nutrients in the diet of the consumers, and with the ever increasing demand in its production, it is not without constraints from insect pest infestation attributing to low yields with great economic importance. Hence, the need to assess the yield, compare the proximate composition of stems and grains from plants not infested and infested by stem borers, as well as nutrient reserve in the stem borer insect pest. The study was carried out in four localities namely; Beji, Chanchaga, Paiko and Shanu in Agro-Ecological Zone B of Niger State. At harvest, borers found on cobs and stems were collected, counted and preserved in 70% alcohol. The cobs were weighed, shelled and the grains weighed. Proximate analysis was done on the maize seeds and stems, while teneral reserve was done on the stem borer larvae, following standard experimental procedures. The proximate composition of the maize stems was highest in the non-infested stems except the crude fibre (73.26%) that was highest in the infested stems. Also, the proximate composition of the non-infested seeds had highest values except for moisture content (10.87%) that was highest in the infested seeds. Productivity was highest at the Shanu site with values of 183.95g and 154.45g, and lowest in Beji with 53.80g and 40.85g for a cob and grains, respectively. Aggregate teneral reserve of the terminal larval stage of the stem borer species were 61.67μg per stem borer for glycogen, 40.10 μg/stem borer for glucose, 106.64 μg/stem borer for lipid and 97.46 μg/stem borer for protein. The study revealed significant effects of stem borers on the maize plants and grains, which may further result to damage economically and nutritionally.