Agronomy (2022) 12 (1 - 46)

Ephantus Nguma, Chandiona Munthali, Daiki Murayama, Kazumitsu Onishi, Masahiko Mori, Rintaro Kinoshita, Shinji Yamashita, Mikio Kinoshita, Masayuki Tani, Mari Palta, Jiwan P. Palta, Hiroshi Koaze and Daigo Aiuchi (2022)
Fertilizer effects on endosperm physicochemical properties and resistance to larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), in Malawian local maize (Zea mays L.) varieties: Potential for utilization of Ca and Mg nutrition
Agronomy 12 (1 - 46)
Abstract: Maize grain hardness influences storage pest resistance, a key characteristic valued by smallholder farmers. The structural changes in the endosperm determine grain hardness and are influenced by agronomic practices. The purpose of this study was to establish whether supply of calcium and magnesium based fertilizers can alter physicochemical properties of local and hybrid maize varieties and reduce the infestation by larger grain borer (Prostephanus truncatus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)) during storage. Two local and one hybrid maize varieties commonly grown by smallholder farmers in Malawi were cultivated under three fertilizer treatments (NPK (nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium), NPK plus gypsum, and NPK plus dolomite). After harvest, the grains were classified into flint and dent types, followed by P. truncatus infestation and determination of their physicochemical properties. The addition of gypsum and dolomite fertilizers led to higher levels of amylose, total zein and β-14 zein, traits associated with kernel hardness, compared to the application of NPK fertilizer. Moreover, local maize varieties showed higher resistance to P. truncatus infestation, hardness and biochemical properties associated with hardness (total zein, α-19 and β-14 zein, starch lysophosphatidylcholine, and non-starch free fatty acid) compared to hybrid variety. Our study suggests the potential for utilizing Ca and Mg nutrition in maize to improve kernel hardness, thus adoption of gypsum and dolomite by smallholder farmers may be beneficial against P. truncatus during storage.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host
environment - cropping system/rotation

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Prostephanus truncatus	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Malawi