Resistance to Larvae of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera in Three Experimental Maize Hybrids

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
One commercial and three experimental maize hybrids were tested for resistance to larvae of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte under uniform controlled infestations. Damage was measured directly by root damage ratings and indirectly by root-pulling resistance and yield reduction; the experimental hybrids were damaged less than the commercial hybrid and were, therefore, considered to be resistant. The same number of adults emerged from both the susceptible and resistant hybrids, but those from the resistant hybrids were heavier. The resistant hybrids may have been nutritionally superior to the susceptible hybrid, or perhaps the resistance was the result of an initial antixenosis followed by physiological compensation. In either case, the resistance was not tolerance, since it appeared to be the result of a response by rootworm larvae to resistant host plants and not the result of a host plant response to larval attack.