The influence of western corn rootworm – Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera Le Conte attack, upon quality of corn seeds

摘要

Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte is considered one of the mostimportant pests of corn grown in monoculture. Damage causedby the Western Corn Rootworm is considerable. The attack is producedby larvae and adults, serious affecting the grain production.Following laboratory analyzes may notice a decrease in the valuesof all track quality indicators for ears harvested from plantsattacked by Diabrotica virgifera virgifera compared with the cobsfrom the healthy plants. Values of fat content of attacked cobsranged from 2.76 and 4.23%, protein content ranged from 9.1 to10.6% and starch between 69.7 and 70.5%. The average fat contentof the cobs attacked percentage decreased by 11%, protein contentby 16% and starch content dropped by less than one percent.