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ARS Home » Plains Area » Brookings, South Dakota » Integrated Cropping Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #212303
Title: Evaluating Tripsacum-Introgressed Maize Germplasm after Infestation with Western Corn Rootworms (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Author
item Prischmann, Deirdre
item Dashiell, Kenton
item Schneider, David
item EUBANKS, MARY - DUKE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2008
Publication Date: 8/27/2008
Citation: Prischmann, D.A., Dashiell, K.E., Schneider, D.J., Eubanks, M.W. Evaluating Tripsacum-introgressed maize germplasm after infestation with western corn rootworms (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). J. Appl. Entomol. 133 (2009) 10-20.

Interpretive Summary: Maize (Zea mays L.) is a valuable commodity throughout the world, but corn rootworms (Chrysomelidae: Diabrotica spp.) often cause economic damage and increase production costs. Current rootworm management strategies have limitations, and in order to create viable management alternatives, researchers have been developing novel maize lines using Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides L.) germplasm, a wild relative of maize that is resistant to rootworms. Ten maize Tripsacum-introgressed inbred lines derived from recurrent selection of crosses with gamagrass-teosinte (Zea diploperennis Iltis) recombinants and two public inbred lines were assessed for susceptibility to western corn rootworm and yield in a 2-yr field study. Two experimental maize inbred lines, SDG11 and SDG20, had mean root damage ratings of 2.5 or less (Iowa 1 to 6 scale), which was significantly lower than the susceptible public line B73. Two other experimental maize inbred lines, SDG12 and SDG6, appeared tolerant to rootworm damage because they exhibited yield increases after rootworm infestation in both years. With the exception of SDG15 and SDG19, the mean yield per plant of experimental maize lines was equal to or exceeded that of the public inbred lines B73 and W64A. Thus, there is potential to use Tripsacum-introgressed maize germplasm in breeding programs to enhance plant resistance and/or tolerance to corn rootworms.

Technical Abstract: Maize (Zea mays L.) is a valuable commodity throughout the world, but corn rootworms (Chrysomelidae: Diabrotica spp.) often cause economic damage and increase production costs. Current rootworm management strategies have limitations, and in order to create viable management alternatives, researchers have been developing novel maize lines using Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides L.) germplasm, a wild relative of maize that is resistant to rootworms. Ten maize Tripsacum-introgressed inbred lines derived from recurrent selection of crosses with gamagrass-teosinte (Zea diploperennis Iltis) recombinants and two public inbred lines were assessed for susceptibility to western corn rootworm and yield in a 2-yr field study. Two experimental maize inbred lines, SDG11 and SDG20, had mean root damage ratings of 2.5 or less (Iowa 1 to 6 scale), which was significantly lower than the susceptible public line B73. Two other experimental maize inbred lines, SDG12 and SDG6, appeared tolerant to rootworm damage because they exhibited yield increases after rootworm infestation in both years. With the exception of SDG15 and SDG19, the mean yield per plant of experimental maize lines was equal to or exceeded that of the public inbred lines B73 and W64A. Thus, there is potential to use Tripsacum-introgressed maize germplasm in breeding programs to enhance plant resistance and/or tolerance to corn rootworms.