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CROP PHYSIOLOGY & METABOLISM

Maize Morphology and Shoot CO₂ Assimilation after Root Damage by Western Corn Rootworm Larvae

^a USDA-ARS, Northern Grain Insects Research Lab., 2923 Medary Ave., Brookings, SD 57006 USA
^b Biology-Microbiology Dep., South Dakota State Univ., Brookings, SD 57007 USA

wriedell{at}ngirl.ars.usda.gov

Knowledge of the physiological stress mechanisms triggered by corn rootworm larval feeding damage may suggest new ways of maintaining maize (Zea mays L.) productivity in plants damaged by this important insect pest. Western corn rootworm [Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (LeConte)] larval feeding damage to maize root systems causes complex changes in leaf CO₂ assimilation. The objective of our study was to further explore the relationships between plant morphology and CO₂ assimilation in rootworm-damaged maize. The effects of moderate or severe root damage caused by larval feeding or by mechanical damage on root system morphology, shoot dry weight, leaf area, stomatal conductance, and CO₂ assimilation were investigated in greenhouse experiments. Rootworm larval feeding, which removed about 75% of the total root system volume, or mechanical cutting treatments imposed at the V12 leaf stage, which removed about 30% of the total root system volume, had no effect upon leaf CO₂ assimilation but significantly reduced stomatal conductance when measured at the tassel development stage. During the time when larvae were damaging root systems or when specific root node axes were mechanically cut, however, leaf CO₂ assimilation was less in root-damaged plants than in undamaged plants. Larval-damaged root systems had accelerated adventitious root axis growth and development in the nodes located immediately above the damaged nodes. This compensatory root growth was more pronounced under the moderate root feeding damage treatments than in the severe root damage treatments. Total leaf area and shoot CO₂ assimilation were less in plants with severe larval feeding damage than in plants with moderate damage or in control plants. Thus, the severity of root damage plus the level of root compensatory growth play important roles in mediating shoot growth and CO₂ assimilation responses to stress imposed by rootworm larval feeding.

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