CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT OF APHID-INFESTED SEEDLING LEAVES OF FIFTEEN MAIZE GENOTYPES

Abstract

We measured the total chlorophyll (Chl a+b) content in seedling leaves of fifteen maize cultivars infested by two studied aphid species (oligophagous Rhopalosiphum padi L., monophagous Sitobion avenae F.) 7 and 14 days after the beginning of infestation, using a SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter. Chlorophyll loss was more severe in R. padi-infested than in S. avenae-infested plants. Chlorophyll depletion was greater after long-term (14 days) than after short-term aphid infestation in the investigated host systems. Seedlings of Zlota Karlowa and Tasty Sweet were more damaged by aphid feeding; Ambrozja and Plomyk plants were less damaged by aphid feeding.