Abstract
The effects of differential leaf water, leaf nitrogen and cyclic hydroxamate (DIMBOA) concentrations in corn seedlings were analyzed for a polyphagous insect, the southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania Cram.). Six different combinations of nutrients and allelochemicals [DIMBOA = 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy(2H)-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one] were generated using two corn genotypes (WF9 and CI3IA) and three fertility regimes (complete nutrient, Fe-deficient, and N-deficient solutions) in the University Biotron. Poorest larval growth was observed in the low-nitrogen treatments (1.2% and 1.7% leaf N) and was the result of both low consumption rates and high metabolic costs (low efficiency of conversion of digested food, ECD). Fastest growth rates were observed forthe larvae fed leaves from the high-nitrogen treatments (4.6% and 4.4% leaf N). It is noteworthy that these treatments also contained the highest concentration of cyclic hydroxamates, which are generally believed to be the primary defensive chemicals mediating resistance against the European corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner). If these hydroxamates do have any deleterious or costly effects (perhaps accounting for a large portion of metabolic expenditures), the high digestibility of the leaf tissue and the increased consumption rates more than compensate, resulting in rapid growth (growth rate = consumption rate × approximate digestibility × efficiency of conversion of the digested food). These studies illustrate that variation in key nutrients and allelochemicals within a single plant species (Zea mays L.) may have significantly different effects upon various potential leaf-chewing caterpillars, such as these armyworms versus corn borers (which cannot handle the cyclic hydroxamates, even if provided with young nutritious leaf tissues).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen, M.D., andSelman, I.W. 1955. Egg-production in the mustard beetle,Phaedon cochleariae (F.) in relation to diets of mineral-deficient leaves.Bull. Entomol. Res. 46:393–397.
Argandona. V.H., Pena, G.F., Niemeyer, H.M., Corcuera, L.J. 1982. Effect of crysteine on stability and toxicity to aphids of a cyclic hydroxamic acid from Graminae.Phytochemistry 21:1573–1574.
Bar-Akiva, A. 1971. Functional aspects of mineral nutrients in use for the evaluation of plant nutrient requirement.Recent Adv. Plant Nutr. 1:115–142.
Brown, J.C. 1978. Mechanism of iron uptake by plants.Plant Cell Environ. 1:249–258.
Chevalier, P., andSchrader, L.E. 1977. Genotypic differences in nitrate absorption and partitioning of N among plant parts in maize.Crop Sci. 17:897–901
Clarkson, D.T., andHansom, J.B. 1980. The mineral nutrition of higher plants.Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 31:239–298.
Conrad, H.R., Zimmerman, D.R., andCombs, G.F., Jr. 1980. Literature Review on Iron in Animal and Poultry Nutrition. National Feed Ingredient Assoc. Des Moines, Iowa. 188 pp.
Corcuera, L.J. 1974. Identification of the major active component present in corn extract inhibitory to soft rotErwinia species. PhD thesis, University of Wisconsin, Madison. 81pp.
Corcuera. L.J., Argandona, V.H., Pena, G.F., Perez, F.J., andNiemeyer, H.M. 1982. Effect of a benzoxazinone from wheat on aphids, pp. 33–39, in J.H. Visser and A.K. Minks, eds. Proceedings, 5th International Symposium on Insect-Plant Relationships. Pudoc, Wageningen.
Dadd, R.H. 1973. Insect nutrition. Current developments and metabolic implications.Annu. Rev. Entomol. 18:381–420.
Friend, W.G. 1958. Nutritional requirement of phytophagous insects.Annu. Rev. Entomol. 3:57–74.
Guthrie, W.D. 1974. Techniques, accomplishments and future potential of breeding for resistance to European corn borers in corn, pp. 359–380, in Proceedings of the Summer Institue on Biological Control of Plant and Insects and Diseases. (F.G. Maxwell, and F.A. Harris, (eds.). University of Mississippi Press, Jackson.
Guthrie, W.D. 1981. Maize whorl stage resistance to the first four instars of European corn borer larvae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).J. Kans. Entomol. Soc. 54:737–740.
House, H.L. 1965. Effects of low levels of the nutrient content of a food and of nutrient imbalances on the feeding and the nutrition of a phytophagous larva,Celerio euphorbiae (Linneaus) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae).Can. Entomol. 97:62–68.
Klun. J.A., Guthrie, W.D., Hallauer, A.R., andRussell, W.A. 1970. Genetic nature of 2,4,-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H-1,4,-benzoxazine-3-one and resistance to the European corn borer in a diallel set of eleven maize inbreds.Crop Sci. 10:87–90.
Larsson, S., andO. Tenow. 1979. Utilization of dry matter and bioelements in larvae ofNeodiprion sertifer Goeffr. feeding on Scots Pine (Pinussylvestris L.).Oecologia (Berlin) 43:157–172.
Loomis, R.S., Beck, S.D., andStauffer, J.R. 1957. The European corn borer,Pyrausta nubilalis (Hubn.) and its principal host plant. V. A Chemical study of host plant resistance.Plant Physiol. 32:379–385.
Manuwoto, S. 1980. Feeding and development of European corn borer and southern armyworm larvae on U.S. inbred and Caribbean maize genotypes. MS thesis, University of Wisconsin, Madison. 97 pp.
Manuwoto, S., andScriber, J.M. 1982. Consumption and utilization of three maize genotypes by the southern armyworm,Spodoptera eridania (Cram.)J. Econ. Entomol. 75:163–167.
Mattson, W.J., Jr., 1980. Herbivory in relation to plant nitrogen content.Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 11:119–161.
Mattson, W.J. 1983. Spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) performance in relation to foliar chemistry of its host plants, pp. 55–65, in R.L. Talerica and M. Montgomery, eds. Proceedings, Forest Defoliator-Host Interactions: A Comparison Between Gypsy Moth and Spruce Budworms, USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report NE-85. Washington, D.C.
Mengel, K., Kirkby, E.A. 1982.Principles of Plant Nutrition, 3rd International Potash Institute, Bern, Switzerland. 655 pp.
McKenzie, H.A., andWallace H.S. 1954. The Kjeldahl determination of nitrogen: A critical study of digestion condition-temperature, catalyst, and oxidizing agent.Aust. J. Chem. 7:55–70.
Neilands, J.B. 1967. Hydroxamic acids in nature.Science 156:1443–1447.
Neilands. J.B. 1977. Siderophores. Biochemical Ecology and Mechanism of Iron Transport inEnterobacteria, pp. 3–32,in K.N. Raymond (ed.). Bioinorganic Chemistry, II, Advances in Chemistry Series 162. American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.
Oertli, J.C., andJacobson. L. 1960. Some quantitative consideration in iron nutrition of higher plants.Plant Physiol. 35:683–688.
Ortega, A., Vasal, S.K., Mihm, S.K., andHershey, C. 1980. Breeding insect resistance in maize, pp. 370–419,in F.G. Maxwell, and P.R. Jennings, (ed.). Breeding Plants for Insect Resistance. Wiley, New York.
Palmer, M.J., DeKock P.C., andBacon, J.S.D. 1963. Changes in the concentration of malic acid, citric acid, calcium and potassium in the leaves during the growth of normal and iron-deficient mustard plants (Sinapsis alba).Biochem. J. 86:484–494.
Possingham, J.V. 1971. Some effects of mineral nutrient deficiencies on the chloroplasts of higher plants.Recent Adv. Plant Nutr. 1:155–165.
Raymond. K.N. 1977. Kinetically inert complexes of the siderophores in studies of microbial iron transport, pp. 33–54,in K.N. Raymond (ed.), Bioinorganic chemistry, II. Advances in Chemistry Series 162. American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.
Reese, J.C. 1979. Interactions of allelochemicals with nutrients in herbivore food, PP. 309–330,in G.A. Rosenthal and D.H. Janzen, eds. Herbivores: Their Interaction with Secondary Plant Metabolites Academic Press, New York.
Schrader, L.E., andHageman, R.H. 1967. Regulation of nitrate reductase activity in corn (Zea mays L.) seedlings by endogeneous metabolites.Plant Physiol. 42:1750–1756.
Scriber. J.M. 1977. Limiting effects of low leaf-water content on the nitrogen utilization, energy budget, and larval growth ofHyalophora cecropia (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae).Oecologica (Berlin) 28:269–287.
Scriber, J.M. 1979. Post-ingestive utilization of plant biomass and nitrogen by Lepidoptera: Legume feeding by the southern armyworm.J. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 87:141–153.
Scriber, J.M. 1981. Sequential diets, metabolic costs and growth ofSpodoptera eridania feeding upon dill, lima bean, and cabbage.Oecologia (Berlin) 51:175–180.
Scriber, J.M. 1982. The behavior and nutritional physiology of southern armyworm larvae as a function of plant species consumed in earlier instars.Entomologia Exp. Appl. 31:359–369.
Scriber, J.M. 1984a. Host plant suitability, pp. 159–202,in R. Cardé and W. Bell (eds.). The Chemical Ecology of Insects. Chapman and Hall, London.
Scriber, J.M. 1984b. Nitrogen nutrition of plants and insect invasion, pp. 441–460,in Nitrogen in Crop Production. R. Hauck (ed.). American Society of Agronomy Madison, Wisconsin.
Scriber, J.M., andMattson, W.J. 1985. Feeding ecology of insect folivores on woody plants: Water, Nitrogen, fiber and mineral considerations,in F. Slansky and J.G. Rodriguez (eds.). The Nutritional Ecology of Insects, Mites, and Spiders. Wiley, New York. In press.
Scriber, J.M., andSlansky. F., Jr. 1981. The nutritional ecology of insects.Annu. Rev. Entomol. 26:183–211.
Scriber, J.M., Tingey, W.M., Gracen, V.R., andSullivan, S.L. 1975. Leaf-feeding resistance to the European corn borer.Ostrinia nubilalis, in genotypes of tropical (low-DIMBOA) and U.S. inbred (high-DIMBOA) maize.J. Econ. Entomol. 68:823–826.
Slansky, F., andScriber, J.M. 1985. Food consumption and utilization, Chapter 3, pp. 87–163in G.A. Kerkut and L.I. Gilbert (eds.). Comprehensive Insect Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology, Vol. 4. Permagon Press, Oxford.
Snedecor, G.W., andCochran. W.G. 1976. Statistical Methods. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa. 593 pp.
Sullivan, S.L. 1975. Mechanism of resistance to European corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), in exotic maize lines. PhD thesis, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. 63 pp.
Virtanen, A.I. 1961. Some aspects of factors in the maize plants with toxic effects on insect larva.Suom. Kemistil. 34B:29–31.
Waldbauer, G.P. 1968. The consumption and utilization of food by insects.Adv. Insect Physiol. 5:229–288.
White, T.C.R. 1984. The abundance of invertebrate herbivores in relation to the availability of nitrogen in stressed food plants.Oecologia 63:90–105.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Manuwoto, S., Scriber, J.M. Consumption and utilization of experimentally altered corn by southern armyworm: Iron, nitrogen, and cyclic hydroxamates. J Chem Ecol 11, 1469–1483 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012193
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012193