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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Plant Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #121444
Title: EFFECT OF STALK STRENGTH AS MEASURED BY RIND PENETROMETER RESISTANCE ON EUROPEAN CORN BORER DAMAGE AND YIELD

Author
item MARTIN, SHERI - UNIV OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
item Hibbard, Bruce
item Darrah, Larry

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting North Central Branch
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Corn (Zea mays L.) is a major commodity in the world. A major pest of corn is the European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner. Yield can be decreased due to a number of factors including stalk lodging and a few major insects. Increased rind penetrometer resistance has been shown to decrease stalk lodging by increasing stalk strength. For this experiment, we looked at whether and how rind penetrometer resistance affects ECB feeding, both first and second generations, yield, and leaf toughness. Cycles 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 of rind penetrometer selection in the low (decreased stalk strength) and high (increased stalk strength) directions for genotype MoSCSSS were used. Three replications at each of six locations throughout central Missouri were sampled in the summer of 2000. The cycles of selection were evaluated for first generation ECB damage using the Guthrie 9-point scale for field damage, and for second generation nfeeding damage by counting of number and lengths of tunnels in the stalks. The damage was also compared to yield results to see if selection for increased or decreased stalk strength was correlated with higher or lower yield, respectively. Preliminary results show differences in first and second generation ECB damage between some cycles of selection, as well as yield differences between high and low cycles. Increases in stalk strength may make the plant less desirable to ECB larvae because of the thicker rind which also helps retain grain yields by reducing stalk lodging and breakage.