Effect of detasseling corn plants on egg deposition, larval infestation and tunneling damage of Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis Guenee (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in the Philippines
1988
Felkl, G. (Giessen Univ. (Germany, F.R.). Inst. fuer Phytopathologie und Angewandte Zoologie)
Detasseling 75 per cent of all corn plants in a field in the early tasseling stage significantly reduced numbers of all larval instars, pupae and feeding tunnels of Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis. Tasseled plants, left for pollination, remained highly infested and damaged. Immature tassels of corn plants in the early tasseling stage accommodated up to 65 per cent of all 1st, 2nd and 3rd instar larvae and 29 per cent of all 4th and 5th instar larvae on the plants. The primary effect of detasseling on the corn borer population could be accounted for by the physical removal of larvae feeding on the tassels. Pollen as supplement to a leaf diet in the laboratory markedly increased the survival chances and weight of newly hatched larvae. Field data confirmed that detasseling deteriorated survival chances of remaining larvae particularly on detasseled plants due to the reduced pollen production in detasseled fields. Gravid corn borer moths significantly preferred deposition of eggs on detasseld plants. Possible reasons for and consequences of this preference are discussed
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