“…Under the hypothesis that the level of field resistance rather depends on induced changes by MCB attack than on constitutive defenses and those changes are determined by the duration of insect feeding, ions impli-cated in the long term response could be important determinants of genotype induced resistance. Agreeing with other studies on induced metabolic plant changes by insect attack, the primary metabolism was downregulated in both maize genotypes by MCB 9-day feeding, including sugar, amino acid fatty acid and vitamin metabolism, as well as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) or Krebs cycle which implies a disruption of energy production (Kang et al , 2019, Liu et al , 2010, Sabino, Tavares, Riffel, Li, Oliveira, Feres, Henrique, Oliveira, Correia, Nascimento, Hawkes, Santana, Holmes & Bento, 2019, Wanget al , 2016. According to a general downregulation of energy production and metabolism, intermediates or end-products of the shikimate pathway were repressed by MCB infestation in the susceptible inbred since decreases of tryptophan, phenylalanine and beta-tyrosine levels and those of several phenolic and indole-related compounds derived from them were registered in that inbred after 9-day feeding.…”