Response of Interaction between Aboveground and Belowground Herbivorous to Corn Development
Response of Interaction between Aboveground and Belowground Herbivorous to Corn Development
Jinwen Liu, Hong Li, Jinhua Zhang, Jianping Li and Xiujuan Yan*
ABSTRACT
Plant and soil animal communities interact through plant-associated processes. How the interactions between the aboveground and belowground herbivores communities affect plant development remains unclear? In this study, Holotrichia diomphalia Bates, the belowground herbivore grub that feed on the roots, and Rhopalosiphum maidis, the aboveground herbivore aphid that feed on the leaf were chosen as research objects. Four groups were set based on field investigation, including aphid with grub (A & G), aphid (A), grub (G) and blank control (C) groups, and the effects on the host plant corn (Zea mays L.) was investigated. One-way ANOVA and Pearson analysis was performed to process the data. The results showed that, the interactions between above- and below-ground herbivores had a negative effect on corn. Belowground herbivore grubs inhibited the aboveground herbivores of aphids, and aboveground herbivores prevented the increase of grubs, whereas plants regulated population change through interaction with above- and below-ground herbivores, thus reducing the survival rate of above- and below-ground insect herbivores. In naturally occurring populations, behavior of leaf-feeding were influenced by root-feeders, causing multitude interactions at the same time. In conclusion, it is suggested that there may be a mutual inhibition between different aboveground and below-ground herbivores when the development of corn declined. These findings will contribute to a better understanding on the interaction mechanism between above-ground and below-ground herbivore on the host plants, and have guiding significance for agricultural pest control.
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