Southwestern Corn Borer Growth on Callus Initiated from Corn Genotypes with Different Levels of Resistance to Plant Damage
1983
Williams, W. P. | Buckley, P. M. | Taylor, V. N.
Development of southwestern corn borer [Diatrea grandiosella (Dyar)] larvae on corn (Zea mays L.) has been shown to be affected by the corn genotype on which they develop in the field. This investigation was undertaken to determine whether larvae could survive and grow on corn callus in the laboratory and, if so, whether the genotype of the callus would affect growth. Callus of several corn genotypes was initiated and maintained on Muashige and Skoog (MS) medium with an addition of 14 mg of 2,4-D (2, 4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) per liter. When approximately 600 mg of callus had developed on each petri plate, three first-instar southwestern corn borer larvae were added to each plate. After 1 week the larvae were weighed. Larvae developing on some corn genotypes were significantly smaller than those developing on other genotypes. The smaller larvae developed on genotypes which have relatively high levels of field resistance to leaf feeding when infested at the whorl stage of growth or to stalk tunneling when infested at anthesis. Larvae developing on some genotypes showing field resistance, however, were not significantly smaller than those developing on callus initiated from susceptible genotypes.
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