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Title: EVALUATION OF CORN HYBRIDS FOR TOLERANCE TO CORN ROOTWORM (DIABROTICA VIRGIFERA VIRGIFERA LECONTE) LARVAL FEEDING

Author
item IVEZIC, MARIJA - UNIV STROSSMAYER-CROATIA
item TOLLEFSON, JON - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item RASPUDIC, EMILIJA - UNIV STROSSMAYER-CROATIA
item BRKIC, IVAN - AG INST OSIJEK-CROATIA
item BRMEZ, MIRJANA - UNIV STROSSMAYER-CROATIA
item Hibbard, Bruce

Submitted to: Cereal Research Communications
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/4/2006
Publication Date: 6/1/2006
Citation: Ivezic, M., Tollefson, J.J., Raspudic, E., Brkic, I., Brmez, M., Hibbard, B.E. 2006. Evaluation of corn hybrids for tolerance to corn rootworm (diabrotica virgifera virgifera leconte) larval feeding. Cereal Research Communications. 34:1101-1107.

Interpretive Summary: The western corn rootworm is a major insect pest in continuous corn production, but no viable alternatives to use of insecticides for its control are available. Insecticides are regularly used to control the western corn rootworm, but the cost is high, can pose environmental risks, and may become ineffective due to resistance. Growing corn that is resistant to corn rootworms would be a valuable alternative to insecticides. Nine Croatian (Institute of Agriculture, Osijek) and two Pioneer Hi-Bred Int. Inc. (Johnston, Iowa, USA) commercial corn hybrids were evaluated for resistance to western corn rootworm larval feeding. Root size and root regrowth after damage varied significantly between corn varieties. Knowledge of root characteristics under rootworm larval feeding pressure will allow growers to choose germplasm best suited for their situation. Tolerant corn varieties may provide alternatives to insecticides and transgenic approaches.

Technical Abstract: The western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) is a major pest of corn in USA. The pest arrived in Croatia in 1995, and today over 250,000 ha are infested. Insecticides are regularly used to control the western corn rootworm, but the cost is high, can pose environmental risks, and may become ineffective due to resistance. Growing corn that is resistant to corn rootworms would be a valuable alternative to insecticides. Nine Croatian (Institute of Agriculture, Osijek) and two Pioneer Hi-Bred Int. Inc. (Johnston, Iowa, USA) commercial corn hybrids were evaluated for WCR resistance at two locations using complete randomized block design with four replications. One location was in east Croatia (Osijek) and one was in the USA (Iowa). The hybrids’ tolerance to larval feeding was rated using root injury, root regrowth and root size. Root injury was rated using the Node-Injury Scale 0-3 and evaluation of root size and root regrowth were done by scale 1-6. In an analysis of variance combined across locations, root injury didn’t show any significant differences among hybrids, but root regrowth and root size were significantly different.