Biochemical interactions for antibiosis mechanism of resistance to Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) in different maize types

Abstract

Variation in performance and abundance of herbivorous insects is attributed to variation in host plant quality, being determined by nutritional composition, allelochemistry and specific anatomical features. Present studies were undertaken to gain an understanding on the role of different biochemical factors in plant defense to Chilo partellus in diverse maize types with variable morphological and favorable agronomic traits. All the white and yellow kernel maize genotypes tested had significantly lower deadhearts and more adverse effects on one or the other biological parameters of C. partellus, as compared to the resistant check, CML 334. The phenolic acids viz., ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid, and the nutritional biochemical factors such as protein, oil, chlorophyll-b, total chlorophyll and total carotenoid showed significant negative correlations, while total sugars and starch had positive correlation with pupal period of C. partellus. Oil content showed significant positive correlation with larval weight, and chlorophyll-a negative correlation with larval and pupal weights of C. partellus. Iron and zinc contents in maize seedlings showed significant positive correlation with pupal weight, whereas zinc content showed negative correlation with plant deadhearts, larval survival and adult emergence of C. partellus. Present studies show that different maize types expressed antibiosis mechanism of resistance to spotted stem borer, while the amount of phenolic acids and the nutritional biochemical constituents were highly variable in their seedlings, suggesting that the maize plant defense against C. partellus could be due to concentration of particular biochemical constituent and/or interaction with different biochemical compounds.

Mapping of resistance to corn borers in a MAGIC population of maize

“…S9_147511039 is located within the gene GRMZM2G178190, which is responsible for zinc metabolism in maize and could regulate its accumulation in grains [73]. The zinc content has been associated with larval survival and adult emergence in Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) [74]. Zinc is also a potent inhibitor of gut α-amylase in Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) [75] causing the reduction in the energy reserves of the larvae [76].…”

Elucidating effect of different photosynthetic pigments on Lipaphis erysimi preference and population build‐up on diverse Brassica juncea genotypes

“…During herbivory, aphids extract phloem sap which depletes the active photosynthates resulting in poor photosynthetic activity of the host plants (Wu & Baldwin, 2010). Plants challenged by insects have also been reported to change the biochemical composition, physical properties and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (Dhillon & Chaudhary, 2015; Dhillon & Kumar, 2020; Hopkins & Huner, 2004; Kumar, Atri, Sangha, & Banga, 2011; Kumar, Singh, Singh, & Singh, 2017).…”

Biological performance and biochemical interactions of mustard aphid (Lipaphis erysimi) in Brassica juncea

“…Total antioxidants were yielded less number of offsprings, the survival in their offsprings was significantly higher as compared to other B. juncea genotypes (Table 1). The differential effects on developmental duration, reproduction and survival of the insects could be due to variation in genetic makeup and/ or expression of defense biochemical compounds in the host plants (Kumar et al 2011, Dhillon andChaudhary 2015). Similar deleterious effects of B. juncea genotype purple mutant were reported on lifespan and fecundity of L. erysimi, which were significantly high on BSH-1 as compared to purple mutant (Rana 2005).…”