Resistance of pericarp-testa to compression forces was the only rheological trait of grain inversely correlated with susceptibility of maize to colonization by maize weevils, but neither the correlation coefficient nor the significance was high. However, the correlation between susceptibility of grain and contents of proteinase inhibitors in the endosperm is low, although negative and significant. Concentrations of phenolic acids in grain have a highly negative and significant correlation with indices of susceptibility of maize to the maize weevil.

Inbred lines of quality protein maize (QPM), contrasting in resistance to maize weevil infestation, were used for the genetic analysis of resistance. The susceptibility of the grains to weevil infestation was measured by feeding, consumption and reproductive activities of insect populations. Specific traits associated with these grain tissues were: phenolic acids (pericarp, embryo), proteinase inhibitors (endosperm, embryo) and hardness of grain (pericarp, endosperm, embryo). The genetics of maize grain resistance to the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motsch., infestation was analyzed by means of additive linear models which considered genetic contributions of maize caryopsis through embryo, endosperm and pericarp.

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