U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska
Date of this Version
1995
Citation
Environ. Entomol. 24(4): 944-949 (1995)
Abstract
Susceptibility to the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, of corn lines bred for their resistance to the aflatoxin-producing fungus Aspergillus flavus Link ex Fries was determined in the laboratory. Duration of maize weevil development, number of progeny produced, and an index of susceptibility varied with corn line; number of eggs laid and survivorship from egg to adult emergence did not vary with corn line. Soluble carbohydrate, kernel hardness, lipid, soluble nitrogen, free and bound phenolic acids, Kjeldahl protein, and protein/carbohydrate ratio varied with corn line; equilibrium moisture content did not vary with corn line. The only relationship between biological parameters of maize weevils and chemical and physical properties of the stored corn that was predictable was that maize weevil development time increased as lipid content of the corn increased. Susceptibility to A. flavus infection in the field was not correlated with susceptibility to maize weevil population growth or with chemical or physical properties of the stored corn. Predicted weevil population growth over a 180-d period varied 50-fold among the corn lines. Some of the corn lines that are less susceptible to infection by A. flavus in the field were also less susceptible to maize weevils (particularly Mp420 and SC54).
Comments
© 1995 Entomological Society of America
This document is a U.S. government work and is not subject to copyright in the United States.