Abstract
The leaf-feeding resistance of corn or maizeZea mays L. to the southwestern corn borer, SWCB,Diatraea grandiosella Dyar has been attributed at least in part to decreased protein, increased crude fiber, and increased hemicellulose in the whorls of resistant genotypes. In this study, individual amino acids and sugars were evaluated as arrestants, with the objective of identifying those that gave weak or negative responses. Several structure-activity relationships were identified. Larvae responded to three-carbonn alkyl alpha amino acids more than to two-, four-, five-, and six-carbon compounds. Amino acids with terminal isopropyl functions gave decreased responses relative to theirn-alkyl counterparts. Dicarboxylic acids and their amides gave the lowest responses of all classes of amino acids. The normally occurring basic amino acids were all good arrestants. The guanido [HN:C(NH2)NH-] function was somewhat important to an arrestant response, as was the number of methylenes between the alpha and omega amino functions of diaminon-alkyl amino acids. Hydroxy amino acids were generally good arrestants unless the hydroxyl was located on a ring system. The two sugars present in expressed corn whorl juice, glucose and fructose, gave poor responses. However, two other sugars, mannose and arabinose, whose C-2 hydroxyls are conformationally in the axial position, were strongly arrestant. Formulated amino acid mixtures based on their content in whorl juice were as strong arrestants as whorl juice. However, the relative contributions of amino acids and sugars that are weak arrestants to the resistance of corn to SWCB larvae is uncertain because amino acid analyses did not reveal significantly higher contents of these amino acids in the whorl juices of resistant lines.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bernays, E.A. 1985. Regulation of feeding behavior, pp. 1–32,in G.A. Kerbut and L.I. Gilbert (eds.). Insect Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology, Vol. 4, Regulation, Digestion, Nutrition, Excretion. Pergamon Press, Elmsford, New York.
Chippendale, G.M., andReddy, G.P.V. 1974. Dietary carbohydrates: Role in feeding behavior and growth of the southwestern corn borer,Diatraea grandiosella.J. Insect Physiol. 20:751–759.
Cohen, S.A., Bidlingmeyer, D.A., andTarvin, T.L. 1986. PITC derivatives in amino acid anlaysis.Nature 320:769–770.
Dadd, R.H. 1985. Nutrition: Organisms, pp. 313–390,in G.A. Kerbut and L.I. Gilbert (eds.). Insect Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology, Vol. 4, Regulation, Digestion, Nutrition, Excretion. Pergamon Press, Elmsford, New York.
Davis, F.M., Ng, S.S., andWilliams, W.P. 1988a. Mechanisms of resistance in corn to leaffeeding by southwestern corn borer and European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).J. Econ. Entomol. 82:919–922.
Davis, F.M.,Williams, W.P.,Mihm, J.A.,Barry, B.D.,Overman, J.L.,Wiseman, B.R., andRiley, T.J. 1988b. Resistance to multiple lepidopterous species in tropical derived corn germplasm. Miss. Agric. For. Exp. Stn. Tech. Bull. 157, 6 pp.
Davis, F.M.,Williams, W.P., andWiseman, B.R. 1989. Methods used to screen maize for and to determine mechanisms of resistance to the southwestern corn borer and fall armyworm, pp. 101–108,in Toward Insect Resistant Maize for the Third World: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Methodologies for Developing Host Plant Resistance to Maize Insects, Mexico, D.F., CIMMYT.
Hedin, P.A., Davis, F.M., Williams, W.P., andSalin, M.L. 1984. Possible factors of leaffeeding resistance in corn to the southwestern corn borer.J. Agric. Food. Chem. 32:262–267.
Hedin, P.A., Willliams, W.P., Davis, F.M., andBuckley, P.M. 1990. Roles of amino acids, protein, and fiber in leaf-feeding resistance of corn to the fall armyworm.J. Chem. Ecol. 16:1977–1995.
Klun, J.A., andBrindley, T.A. 1966. Role of 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone in inbred resistance of host plant (maize) to first-brood larvae of European corn borer.J. Econ. Entomol. 59:711–718.
Nicollier, G.F., Hedin, P.A., andDavis, F.M. 1982. 5-, 6-, and 7-methoxybenzoxazolinone: Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra and biological activity.J. Agric. Food Chem. 30:1133–1135.
Ritchie, S.W., andHanway, J.J. 1982. How a corn plant develops. J. Iowa State Univ. of Sci. and Tech. Coop. Ext. Serv. Special Rpt. 48. 21 pp.
Waiss, A.C., jr., Chan, B.G., Elliger, C.A., Wiseman, B.R., McMillian, W.W., Widstrom, N.W., Zuber, M.S., andKeaster, A.J. 1979. Maysin, a flavone glycoside from corn silks with antibiotic activity.J. Econ. Entomol. 72:256–258.
Williams, W.P., Buckley, P.M., andDavis, F.M. 1985. Larval growth and behavior of the fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on callus initiated from susceptible and resistant corn hybrids.J. Econ. Entomol. 78:951–954.
Williams, W.P., Buckley, P.M., andDavis, F.M. 1987. Feeding responses of corn earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to callus and extracts of corn in the laboratory.Environ. Entomol. 16:532–534.
Wiseman, B.R., Williams, W.P., andDavis, F.M. 1981. Fall armyworm resistance mechanisms in selected corns.J. Econ. Entomol. 74:622–624.
Wiseman, B.R., Davis, F.M., andWilliams, W.P. 1983. Fall armyworm: Larval density and movement as an indication of nonpreference in resistant corn.Protect. Ecol. 5:135–141.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hedin, P.A., Williams, W.P., Buckley, P.M. et al. Arrestant responses of southwestern corn borer larvae to free amino acids: Structure-activity relationships. J Chem Ecol 19, 301–311 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00993697
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00993697