SELECTION FOR BIOLOGICAL RESISTANCE TO CORN ROOTWORM (DIABROTICA SPP.)

Abstract

A potentiometric method developed at the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., for detecting small amounts of HCN in plant tissue was used in assaying corn root tissue of different genetic backgrounds. The realized heritability from selection for high HCN values in three corn populations ranged from 0.49 to 0.82. The average HCN increase in cycle one (C1) relative to the original population (C0) was 135%. A non-significant negative correlation was obtained for comparison between the laboratory test for HCN concentration and the field rating for rootworm damage.