Feeding and oviposition by Argentine stem weevil on Epichlo uncinatainfected lolinecontaining Festulolium

Abstract

Responses of adult Argentine stem weevil to meadow fescueperennial ryegrass hybrids known as Festulolium infected with the endophyte Epichlo uncinata were investigated and compared with endophytefree Grasslands Wana cocksfoot and Grasslands Samson perennial ryegrass and with Samson infected with wild type and AR37 strains of Epichlo festucae var lolii Epichlo uncinata infection in the Festulolium seedline reduced oviposition but not feeding compared with an endophytefree seedline of the same plant genotype in Petri dish leafcomb and potted plant assays Feeding on Festulolium was similar to that on endophytefree Samson but higher than on Samson infected with wild type and AR37 endophytes In these experiments the numbers of eggs laid on E uncinatainfected plant material was similar to that on Samson perennial ryegrass infected with wild type and AR37 endophytes but lower than on endophytefree Samson