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Wound‐induced changes in DIMBOA (2, 4 dihydroxy‐7‐methoxy‐2H‐1, 4 benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐one) concentration in maize plants caused by Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Author(s) -
GUTIERREZ C.,
CASTAÑERA P.,
TORRES V.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1988.tb03322.x
Subject(s) - infestation , biology , noctuidae , lepidoptera genitalia , larva , instar , horticulture , pyralidae , inbred strain , cultivar , botany , insect , gene , biochemistry
SUMMARY Two maize ( Zea mays ) inbred lines, A‐619, (high DIMBOA content) and W‐117 (low DIMBOA content) were artificially infested, at similar physiological stages, with 10 first‐instar larvae of Sesamia nonagrioides. The DIMBOA concentration in stem and leaf tissues of damaged and undamaged plants was measured quantitatively in response to larval attack. After 60 h of infestation, both inbred lines were found to respond to insect attack by increasing significantly ( P < 0·01) the DIMBOA content in leaf tissues compared with uninfested controls. Similar results were observed 5 days after infestation. No significant differences were found between the stem tissues of the two cultivars during this period. After 9 days infestation, significant increases ( P <0·01) could still be found in the stem tissues of the two lines, these showing signs of wounding due to direct insect damage. Thereafter, until day 25 following infestation (the last day of measurement) no significant increased level of DIMBOA was recorded in stem and leaves of the infested lines in any sampling. The production of this compound appears to be a physiological response of the plant to attack induced by physical disruption of its tissues.