Accelerated Development of the European Corn Borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), Induced by Interactions with Colletotrichum graminicola (Melanconiales: Melanconiaceae), the Causal Fungus of Maize Anthracnose

Abstract

European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), larvae developed ca. 20% faster on maize tissues infected with Colletotrichum graminicola (Ces.) Wils., the causal fungus of anthracnose leaf blight and stalk rot, than on noninoculated tissues. Large larvae fed healthy maize stalks vacuum-infiltrated with culture filtrates of C. graminicola grown in a sodium polypectate/corn stalk medium developed ca. 25% faster than larvae reared on stalks infiltrated with noninoculated medium. No differences in pupal weight were noted in any experimental treatment. We suggest that stimulation of larval development by C. graminicola is related to maceration of corn tissue and breakdown of complex carbohydrates by fungal enzymes.