The influence of western corn rootworm – Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera Le Conte attack, upon quality of corn seeds

Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte is considered one of the most
important pests of corn grown in monoculture. Damage caused
by the Western Corn Rootworm is considerable. The attack is produced
by larvae and adults, serious affecting the grain production.
Following laboratory analyzes may notice a decrease in the values
of all track quality indicators for ears harvested from plants
attacked by Diabrotica virgifera virgifera compared with the cobs
from the healthy plants. Values of fat content of attacked cobs
ranged from 2.76 and 4.23%, protein content ranged from 9.1 to
10.6% and starch between 69.7 and 70.5%. The average fat content
of the cobs attacked percentage decreased by 11%, protein content
by 16% and starch content dropped by less than one percent.