Fusarium stalk rot incidence in maize, Zea mays L., in relation to the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) infestation, genotype maturity and eastern Ontario climatic gradient.
type: CreativeWork
description: Development of maize, Zea mays L., germplasm resistant to the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) and Fusarium fungal pests has been in progress for more than three decades as a worldwide cooperative effort. Some of the host plant resistance to the European corn borer and Fusarium has been attributed to the phytochemical product 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone. However, it has been shown that seasonal weather impacts concurrently on maize development, corn borer and Fusarium phenology. It was hypothesized that some of the maize resistance to both pests depended directly on climatological conditions. In the United States, genotype selection for first generation borer resistance is achieved during June infestations using leaf feeding assessment. In Canada, first selection began at the silk stage of plant development in July. The second genotype selection is conducted at grain harvest in October by plant dissections. The larval population, number of tunnels and tunnel length in the first 30 cm of the stalk above the soil surface were used to differentiate genotype susceptibility to corn borers. Grain moisture was directly correlated with genotype resistance to corn borer. Fungi encountered comprised Fusarium moniliforme, F. graminearum, F. sporotrichioides, F. oxysporum, F. avenaceum, and F. equiseti. Two species, F. moniliforme and F. equiseti, were recovered throughout the season. These fungi were first recovered from pollen caught in the leaf collar sheath. As the leaf sheath of maize is relaxed with plant development, the Fusarium contaminated soil and the pollen run down past the ligule by wind, rain splash, and insect movement to settle within the sheath cavity. Undamage pith samples (by the borer) taken at grain harvest showed sporadic tissue contamination by Fusarium. Oppositely, as the corn borer larvae migrated downward on the plant, they drilled the collar sheath, the stalk rind and dug galleries in the stalk to feed on the pith tissue to complete thei…
abstract: Development of maize, Zea mays L., germplasm resistant to the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) and Fusarium fungal pests has been in progress for more than three decades as a worldwide cooperative effort. Some of the host plant resistance to the European corn borer and Fusarium has been attributed to the phytochemical product 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone. However, it has been shown that seasonal weather impacts concurrently on maize development, corn borer and Fusarium phenology. It was hypothesized that some of the maize resistance to both pests depended directly on climatological conditions. In the United States, genotype selection for first generation borer resistance is achieved during June infestations using leaf feeding assessment. In Canada, first selection began at the silk stage of plant development in July. The second genotype selection is conducted at grain harvest in October by plant dissections. The larval population, number of tunnels and tunnel length in the first 30 cm of the stalk above the soil surface were used to differentiate genotype susceptibility to corn borers. Grain moisture was directly correlated with genotype resistance to corn borer. Fungi encountered comprised Fusarium moniliforme, F. graminearum, F. sporotrichioides, F. oxysporum, F. avenaceum, and F. equiseti. Two species, F. moniliforme and F. equiseti, were recovered throughout the season. These fungi were first recovered from pollen caught in the leaf collar sheath. As the leaf sheath of maize is relaxed with plant development, the Fusarium contaminated soil and the pollen run down past the ligule by wind, rain splash, and insect movement to settle within the sheath cavity. Undamage pith samples (by the borer) taken at grain harvest showed sporadic tissue contamination by Fusarium. Oppositely, as the corn borer larvae migrated downward on the plant, they drilled the collar sheath, the stalk rind and dug galleries in the stalk to feed on the pith tissue to complete thei…
author: Meloche, François.
keywords: Agriculture, Agronomy.
identifier: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 58-09, Section: B, page: 4583.
date published: 2009-03-19T14:11:41Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:39:32Z
provider: University of Ottawa
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Ottawa (Canada)

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/10393/4377

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.20381/ruor-10232