Stem borer

Basmati rice is mainly attacked by yellow stem borer. The attack commences right from seedling stage and continues up to grain formation stage. The adult females lay eggs in leaves. The caterpillars come out which creep to the lower plant parts where from they bore into the lower portion of the stem to get inside causing dead hearts. If infestation takes place at earing stage, white grainless ears emerge which are called white ear heads. In Pusa Basmati-1 attack is of medium intensity. However, one has to be vigilant right from early plant growth stage.