Identification and quantification of hydroxamic acids in maize seedling root tissue and impact on western corn...

Hydroxamic acid content was analyzed in the root tissue of four maize, Zea mays L., lines using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and related to western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, larval development and survivorship. Maize lines evaluated included Mp710 (PI 596627), MpSWCB-4, (PI 550498), Sc213 (PI 548792), and Dk580 (DeKalb commercial hybrid). Maize plants from each line were grown in test tubes containing a transparent agarose gel medium in a growth chamber. After 8 d of growth, root tissue of each line was harvested and hydroxamic acid content analyzed using HPLC. Three hydroxamic acids, 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA), 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (MBOA), and 2,4-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIBOA), were identified in the maize roots tested. DIMBOA concentration was quantified and ranged from 246.37 +/- 70.53 micrograms to 91.84 +/- 49.82 micrograms DIMBOA per gram of root tissue. No significant difference was found among lines in D. v. virgifera larval development and survivorship.