Oviposition behavior of Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on different rice cultivars in Louisiana

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), is a pest of a variety of graminaceous crops in the southern United States, including sugarcane, maize, and rice in Louisiana. This study examined several aspects of D. saccharalis oviposition behavior on rice (Oryza sativa). The vertical distribution of egg masses on four phenological stages of rice in the field showed that D. saccharalis prefers to oviposit on the uppermost portions of rice plants, regardless of plant stage. In greenhouse choice experiments, females strongly preferred plants at the boot and panicle differentiation stages over plants at the tillering stage for oviposition. Greenhouse studies were also conducted to quantify the oviposition preference of D. saccharalis for different cultivars of. When plants were at the tillering stage, cultivars Cocodrie, Priscilla, Bengal, Cheniere, and CL161 were more preferred than cultivars Jupiter, XL723, and XP744. When plants reached the panicle initiation stage, cultivars Cocodrie, CL161, and Priscilla were more preferred than Bengal, Cheniere, Jupiter, XL723, and XP744. Females also oviposited significantly more egg masses on the adaxial surfaces of rice leaves than on the abaxial surfaces. These results will facilitate scouting and management of sugarcane borer and can be used as a foundation for the development of sugarcane borer resistant cultivars.     

水稻主茎节位分蘖及生产力补偿能力

本研究选用两个籼稻杂交品种西农优1号和冈优725,采用人工去蘖形成分蘖初期的早发、中发、迟发三个处理,在群体条件下研究分蘖和生产力的补偿能力。本研究发现,迟发处理高节位群的分蘖补偿能力最明显,但绝对补偿量小。迟发处理高节位群的生长势、有效分蘖倍数增加,抽穗期单茎叶面积有增加的趋势,但抽穗期有效穗数、叶面积系数降低;迟发处理冠层光分布增加,叶绿素、蛋白质含量提高,叶片细胞内保护酶类(Superoxide dismutase, SOD、catalase,CAT)活性下降慢,叶片衰老慢,但是漏光率增加,截光率下降;迟发处理净光合生产率（Net assimulation rate, NAR）增加,同化物分配合理,经济系数有增加的趋势,但物质积累速度（Crop growth rate ,CGR）和干物质生产量减少。在本实验条件下,早发与中发处理的经济产量差异不显著,但早发与迟发处理的经济产量差异达极显著。本研究结果表明大苗秧对生物、非生物因素胁迫,如本田前期一定程度的人工去蘖,具有一定的分蘖补偿能力。     

调亏灌水和分蘖干扰对冬小麦生长的补偿效应

为探索抑制个体功能的生长冗余以实现群体性能优化并挖掘作物高产潜力的途径,通过桶栽试验,选择分蘖能力中等的小偃22号和分蘖能力较强的郑麦7698,对比研究2种灌水模式（全生育期充分灌水和分生育期调亏灌水）和3种分蘖干扰（从拔节期开始去除所有小分蘖,仅保留主茎和1个大分蘖;抽穗期去除所有无效分蘖;以不作任何干扰为对照）,来模拟不同水分供应和不可预测干扰对冬小麦生理生长、产量和水分利用效率的补偿机制.结果表明： 2个冬小麦品种均存在生长冗余.与小偃22号相比,郑麦7698有效分蘖数较高,但穗部性状较差.调亏灌水和抽穗期去除无效分蘖均可减少生长冗余,弱化竞争能力,改变源 库关系,提高资源分配.但冗余消除过度（拔节期干扰）则会破坏植株固有的根冠平衡和功能结构,导致生长的不足补偿.与对照相比,调亏灌水联合抽穗期去除无效分蘖可在时空尺度上充分开发和利用作物自身调控潜力实现补偿生长,在不显著影响籽粒产量的同时可提高水分利用效率20.4%～25.4%,是适宜的减冗增效措施.     

Leaf Blade Dimensions of Rice (Oryza sativa L. and Oryza glaberrima Steud.). Relationships between Tillers and the Main Stem

The effects of genotype and environment on the leaf area indexof rice are well documented, but the rules governing leaf areadistribution among main stem and tillers are less well understood.This study investigated the ontogenetic patterns of leaf bladearea and dimensions on the main stem and tillers of three ricecultivars, IAC47, Javaé (Oryza sativa L.) and CG14 (O.glaberrima Steud.) grown in pots without competition among plants.No differences in phyllochron were observed among culms, butleaves on tillers appeared 0.5 to 0.8 phyllochrons earlier thanthe genealogically corresponding leaves on the main stem (systemof Katayama). Cohorts were thus not fully synchronized. Allculms produced their largest leaves soon after panicle initiation(PI), despite differences in tiller age. Leaves that appearedsubsequently were smaller owing to reduced length but not width,which remained constant. Three different hypothetical rulesgoverning the behaviour of culms were tested: (1) tillers behaveas clones of the main stem; (2) cohorts behave uniformly, and(3) behaviour is determined by leaf position (sum of genealogicalleaf and tiller indices). The results were best explained byhypotheses (2) and (3), with leaf blade width and length showingmarkedly different patterns. Copyright 2001 Annals of BotanyCompany Phenology, phyllochron, leaf area, leaf position, leaf cohorts, summed leaf position, leaf blade length and width     

水稻分蘖节位生产力比较

以籼型杂交稻(Oryza sativa) ‘汕优63’为供试材料, 在田间单株稀植条件下(100 cm × 50 cm)进行试验, 保留主茎1个节位、2个节位和4个节位, 其中节位处理分低节位、中节位和高节位, 每个植株通过人工去除特定节位分蘖, 都保留16个分蘖穗和相同的一次、二次和三次分蘖的构成。在此条件下研究了主茎和2-9节位一次、二次和三次分蘖的经济产量。试验结果如下: 1)主茎总叶数和穗重随分蘖节位减少和节位上移而增加。2)在相同分蘖节位条件下, 一次分蘖的平均穗重表现为高节位>中节位>低节位; 二次分蘖的平均穗重在1个节位时表现为中节位>高节位>低节位, 在2和4个节位时表现为高节位>中节位>低节位; 三次分蘖的平均穗重在1个节位时表现为中节位>高节位>低节位, 2个节位时表现为中节位>低节位>高节位, 在4个节位时表现为高节位>中节位>低节位。3)整个分蘖穗重的平均值在1个节位时和在2个节位时都表现为中节位>高节位>低节位, 在4个节位时表现为高节位>中节位>低节位。4)分蘖穗重平均值的不整齐度(占主穗的百分比)随着利用节位上升而增加, 但这种趋势随节位数的增加而变缓。上述结果表明, 低节位分蘖尽管出现的时间早, 有更多的叶片数, 但不一定比中、高节位分蘖有更高的经济产量。要正确比较低、中和高节位生产力, 必须在相同分蘖利用节位、相同的分蘖数和相同的分蘖构成前提下。     

Management of feeding damage and survival of southwestern corn borer and sugarcane borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) with Bacillus thuringiensis transgenic field corn

The efficacy of transgenic corn hybrids expressing an insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) delta-endotoxin from different transformation events was evaluated in field corn, Zea mays L., against the southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella Dyar, and sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.). Susceptibilities of neonates and third instars were determined on Bt and non-Bt corn plants (V6 and R1 stages) in field plots and corn leaf tissue feeding exposure in laboratory bioassays. Bt corn hybrids associated with MON810 and CBH351 transformation events sustained significantly less injury by southwestern corn borer and sugarcane borer during mid-whorl stage infestations compared with their respective non-Bt hybrid equivalents. Southwestern corn borer and sugarcane borer feeding injury to ear leaf-sheath and husk tissues during the silking stage of corn was significantly reduced in MON810 and CBH351 Bt corn compared with their respective non-Bt hybrids. However, resistance levels to feeding injury in Bt hybrids associated with the MON810 event were significantly higher than that in the hybrid associated with the CBH351 event. Southwestern corn borer and sugarcane borer caused more feeding injury to husk tissue than to ear leaf-sheath tissue in both Bt and non-Bt hybrids infested during the silking stage. Laboratory performance of the MON810 event against southwestern corn borer and sugarcane borer varied among hybrids associated with the same event. Third instars of southwestern corn borer were highly susceptible to MON810 Bt corn hybrids in leaf tissue experiments. However, sugarcane borer larvae were susceptible to the MON810 event only in one of the Bt hybrids evaluated. Sugarcane borer mortality was significantly lower after 96 h of feeding exposure on CBH351 Bt corn leaf tissue than on MON810 Bt corn leaf tissue. Plant resistance to southwestern corn borer and sugarcane borer increased as plants matured, independent of the presence of a Bt construct. These results are essential to estimate the importance of Bt transgenic corn in areas of southern United States and other areas where mixed populations of southwestern corn borer and sugarcane borer are predominant and cause severe damage to corn production.     

Hormonal regulation of tiller dynamics in differentially-tillering rice cultivars

Tiller number can contribute significantly to yield potential of rice, but little knowledge is available on hormonal regulation of tillering and tiller dynamics. In the present study, Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), kinetin (6-furfuryl amino purine) and Gibberellic acid (GA₃) treatments have been applied at the early tillering stage to two rice cultivars that contrast for tiller number. The responses of the hormones were studied on growth, development, grain yield, senescence patterns, assimilate concentration of the panicle and ethylene production in different classes of tillers. The leaf area, panicle grain number, fertility percentage and grain yield of tillers were higher in the low-tillering cultivar than that of high-tillering cultivar; the treatment of kinetin was more effective in the latter than in the former. High ethylene production was responsible for reduction of growth duration and grain yield of the tillers. Kinetin application reduced ethylene production of the late-tillers significantly for the benefit of grain yield.     

Location Distribution Characteristics in Leaf Lateral Asymmetry of Hybrid Indica Rice

Rice leaves show lateral asymmetry. Differences in width, thickness, chlorophyll meter readings, nitrogen content, density, and yield on each asymmetrical have been reported. However, limited information is available on the distribution characteristics of the smooth side (SS) and rough side (RS) of rice leaves. The SS of rice leaves can be divided into two types according to its location in leaf: one is the smooth side appearing on the left (SSAL) of the leaf, while the smooth side of the other type appears on the right (SSAR). Through the investigation of four rice varieties, we identified that the proportion of SSAL or SSAR of flag leaves on main stems or tillers was close to 0.50 in the rice population. On the same tiller stem, SSAL and SSAR present alternately, and the SS always stretches ahead of the RS in the curled state. Among the tiller flag leaves of a single rice plant, the proportion of tiller flag leaves with SSAL or SSAR to the total number of tillers is a discrete random variable. Frequency distribution analysis of these proportions showed that the percent of frequency of some class limits was close to each other, and the ratios of percent of frequency of SSAL to SSAR were close to 1:1. To our knowledge, this is a novel finding in rice canopy morphology. According to this study, we can divide rice population into two groups in four hybrid rice varieties.     

冬小麦(Triticum aestivum)分蘖冗余生态学意义以及减少冗余对水分利用效率的影响

通过盆栽试验,以旱作冬小麦(Triticum aestivum)为材料,分别在拔节和抽穗期对分蘖进行人工干扰,来模拟不可预测的自然干扰,对冬小麦分蘖冗余的生态学意义以及减少这些冗余对水分利用效率影响进行研究.设置3个处理:从拔节期开始剪去所有小的分蘖,仅保留主茎和一个大的分蘖(A);在拔节期剪去主茎和两个大的分蘖,保留所有小的分蘖(B);在孕穗期剪去主茎和有效分蘖,保留无效分蘖(C).没有被干扰的植物作为对照(CK).通过花期测定叶片的叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数、气孔导度和蒸腾速率等生理指标来评价植物的生理与生化活性.结果显示,在拔节期和抽穗期去除主茎和大蘖后,无效分蘖的生理活性被激活,开始执行有效分蘖的功能.到花期时,这些无效分蘖已经在生理活性上满足了补充和替代有效茎的要求.虽然株高和穗的整齐度、穗数和产量显著下降,但并没有防碍小麦的繁衍子代,因此,正是这些由早期"无效分蘖"补充而来的有效茎,避免了小麦绝种的风险.而在拔节期去除无效分蘖后,对小麦产量没有显著影响,但提高了水分利用效率,和对照相比水分利用效率提高了10%.因此,可以认为小麦在分蘖上存在着对水分利用不利的生长冗余,减少这些冗余有望节约用水、提高作物的水分利用效率.     

Identification and characterization of a QTL on chromosome 2 for cytosolic glutamine synthetase content and panicle number in rice

A quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with the protein content of cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS1; EC 6.3.1.2) in senescing leaves, panicle number, and panicle weight was characterized in rice (Oryza sativa L.). A near-isogenic line (NIL), C-22, developed by marker-assisted selection was grown under different nitrogen levels in the greenhouse and in a paddy field. Chromosome 2 of C-22 had an approximately 50-cM segment substituted from the Kasalath (indica) chromosome in a Koshihikari (japonica) genetic background. C-22 showed a 12–37% lower content of GS1 protein in leaf blades than Koshihikari, which was in good agreement with a QTL region positively affected by the japonica chromosome. At an early vegetative stage, C-22 had more active tillers than Koshihikari in the greenhouse. At the reproductive stage, both panicle number and total panicle weight of C-22 were significantly higher than those of Koshihikari, particularly when the plants were grown under a low-nitrogen condition. These traits of C-22 were further confirmed in a paddy field. Thus, tiller development was positively affected by the Kasalath chromosome at an early vegetative stage, which resulted in an increased panicle number and panicle weight at the mature stage in C-22. These data indicate that the target QTL (Pnn1; panicle number 1) is important in the development of tillers and panicles in rice. Linkage analyses for panicle number and ratio of developing tiller formation in the second axil (RDT) revealed that Pnn1 was delimited at the 6.7-cM region.     

Field evaluation of resistance of transgenic rice containing a synthetic cry1Ab gene from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner to two stem borers

Two transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L.) lines, KMD1 and KMD2 at the R4 generation, transformed with a synthetic cry1Ab gene from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, were first evaluated for stem borer resistance in the field during the rice growing season of 1998 in two areas of Zhejiang Province, China. Both KMD1 and KMD2 were highly resistant to the stem borers Chilo suppressalis (Walker) and Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker), and were completely undamaged during the whole rice growing season. In contrast, damage to the plants of the untransformed parental control (Xiushui 11) was in the form of deadhearts or whiteheads. Under natural infestation by the C. suppressalis, the damage to control plants reached a peak of 88.7% of plants and 20.1% of tillers encountered with deadhearts. Under artificial and natural infestation of neonate striped stem borers at the vegetative stage and booting stage, 100% of plants and 25.6% of tillers, 78.9% of plants and 15.6% of productive tillers among artificially infested control plants were observed with the symptom of deadhearts and whiteheads, respectively. Damage to the control plants from artificial infestation by the S. incertulas reached a peak of 97.0% of plants and 22.9% of tillers damaged. The field research indicated that both KMD1 and KMD2 show great potential for protecting rice from attack by these two stem borers.     

半湿润地区氮磷钾配施对强筋小麦功能叶光合速率的影响

选用优质强筋小麦品种陕253为材料,研究了不同氮磷钾肥水平及组合对小麦生育后期主茎、主茎分蘖Ⅰ和主茎分蘖Ⅱ功能叶净光合速率的影响,结果表明:在不同的NPK肥配比处理中,功能叶净光合速率在蘖位、叶位间差异均极其显著,不同生育期间存在明显差异,具体表现为:孕穗期高于灌浆期,主茎>主茎分蘖Ⅰ>主茎分蘖Ⅱ,旗叶高于倒二叶.孕穗期以N225P120K120处理对茎蘖功能叶光合速率影响最为明显,分别比CK1和CK2增加20.41%和25.76%;灌浆期以N135P225K120处理对茎蘖旗叶净光合速率作用显著,分别比CK1和CK2增加43.48%和10.83%.研究发现,在一定磷钾肥基础上通过调节氮肥可以调节孕穗期茎蘖功能叶净叶光合速率,提高钾肥用量有利于提高灌浆期各茎蘖功能叶的净光合速率.     

不同生育阶段夜温升高对双季水稻产量的影响

利用两间玻璃温室内夜间不同的温度条件,研究了水稻不同生育阶段的夜温升高对双季早、晚稻产量的影响.结果表明：播种-幼穗分化（一次枝梗分化期）期间夜温升高,有利于双季水稻的分蘖,植株有效穗数显著增加,平均夜间最低温度每升高1 ℃,双季早、晚稻的产量分别提高10.02%～13.18%和6.52%～7.78%（P＜0.01）;幼穗分化-抽穗（10%稻穗抽出剑叶鞘）期间夜温升高,导致颖花退化,使每穗发育颖花数减少,平均夜间最低温度每升高1 ℃,双季早、晚稻的产量分别下降3.76%～6.67%和3.66%～6.94%（P＜0.01）;灌浆结实期（抽穗-成熟）夜温升高,双季早稻的结实率和产量显著下降,而双季晚稻的结实率和产量显著提高,平均夜间最低温度每升高1 ℃,双季早稻的产量下降2.07%～5.61%（P＜0.05）,双季晚稻的产量提高1.63%～2.28%（P＜0.05）.表明不同生育阶段的夜温升高对双季水稻产量的影响存在明显差异.     

虫压胁迫对抗虫转基因水稻生长发育及产量性状的影响

在大田条件下,以转基因抗虫水稻Bt63、R1和R2及非转基因水稻汕优63(对照)为材料,设置高、低两种虫压环境条件,研究虫压胁迫对转Bt抗虫基因水稻生长发育及产量相关性状的影响.结果表明： 抗虫水稻在虫压胁迫条件下可充分体现出外源基因的抗性特点.在高虫压条件下,3种转Bt基因水稻受螟虫危害程度远低于对照植株,株高、分蘖数、地上部鲜质量、穗长、穗质量、单株穗数、单株实粒数、实粒质量、结实率、千粒重等生长发育和产量指标均高于对照,但仅株高、分蘖数和穗长3个指标与对照有显著差异.因此,抗虫外源Bt基因的引入对水稻结实性不会产生负面效应,高虫压胁迫条件对抗虫转基因水稻产量的影响较小.     

褐稻虱在武育粳2号上不同生育期危害对水稻产量结构的影响

通过试验测定在武育粳2号上水稻拔节期正处于幼穗形成阶段,受褐稻虱危害实粒数减少,产量下降;孕穗期较耐褐稻虱危害,有明显的补偿作用;孕穗末期至灌浆初期为水稻受害最敏感的时期,危害后使结实率和千粒重均明显下降,水稻显著减产;灌浆后期至乳熟期受褐稻虱危害主要导致干粒重降低,且越接近成熟产量损失越低。     

两个特用稻的营养供应水平与~(32)P、~(14)C分布和谷产量的关系

香稻(竹香粘)的分蘖数多,其分蘖期根系吸收~(32)P和~(32)P分布到分蘖,以高、中肥和高N,高K肥处理的为高;~(14)C-葡萄糖同化物分布在分蘖比黑米稻(黑优粘)和常规稻“双桂36”的高,但灌浆期和黄熟期~(14)C分布在稻穗较少.低肥处理的稻谷产量较高.而在高、中肥条件下结实率降低,实粒数减少,成穗率稍低,谷产量也比“黑优粘”和“双桂36”低. “黑优粘”在高肥、高N条件下的分蘖多,成穗率高、结实粒数也较多,稻谷产量比“竹香粘”高,在高、中肥、高 N高 P条件下,~(32)P分布于分蘖多,分蘖的~(14)C分布则以高 N,高 K肥条件下的多;开花和灌浆用稻穗的~(14)C分布皆以高 K肥水平的为高。“黑优粘”是耐肥和需钾肥品种,高肥、高K可提高其稻谷产量,但仍比“双桂36”低.     

Restricting the above ground sink corrects the root/shoot ratio and substantially boosts the yield potential per panicle in field‐grown rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice has shallow, weak roots, but it is unknown how much increase in yield potential could be achieved if the root/shoot ratio is corrected. Removing all tillers except the main one, in a japonica (Sakha 101) and an indica (IR64) rice cultivar, instantly increased the root/shoot ratio from 0.21 to 1.16 in Sakha 101 and from 0.16 to 1.46 in IR64. Over 30 days after detillering, the root/shoot ratios of the detillered plants decreased to 0.49 in Sakha 101 and 0.46 in IR64 but remained significantly higher than in the controls. The detillered plants showed two‐ or fourfold increase in the main tiller fresh weight, as a consequence of more positive midday leaf relative water content (RWC), and consistently higher rates of stomatal conductance and photosynthesis, but not transpiration, compared with the controls. The enhanced photosynthesis in Sakha 101 after detillering resulted from both improved water status and higher Rubisco contents whereas in IR64, increasing the Rubisco content did not contribute to improving photosynthesis. Detillering did not increase the carbohydrate contents of leaves but prevented starch depletion at the end of grain filling. The leaf protein content during vegetative and reproductive stages, the grain filling rate, the number of filled grains per panicle were greatly improved, bringing about 38.3 and 35.9% increase in the harvested grain dry weight per panicle in Sakha 101 and IR64, respectively. We provide evidence that improving the root performance by increasing the root/shoot ratio would eliminate the current limitations to photosynthesis and growth in rice.     

Effect of the Duration of the Vegetative Phase on Shoot Growth, Development and Yield in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke)

Craufurd, P. Q. and Bidinger, F. R. 1988. Effect of the durationof the vegetative phase on shoot growth, development and yieldin pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke).–J.exp. Bot. 38: 124–139 The duration of the vegetative phase (DVP) in millet, whichis the major cause of variation in the crop duration, has markedeffects on the number of productive tillers per plant and onmainshoot (MS) and tiller grain yield. Daylength extensionswere used to vary the DVP and the effect on factors affectingpanicle (tiller) number per plant and panicle yield examinedin millet hybrid 841A x J104, grown in the field at Hyderabad,India. Tiller appearance, shoot leaf appearance and leaf area,and stem and panicle growth, in both MS and primary tillers(PTs), were monitored at frequent intervals over the season.At maturity grain yield per shoot was measured The concept of thermal time was used to describe shoot development.The rates of tiller appearance and shoot leaf appearance werelinearly related to thermal time and were not affected by DVPtreatments. The duration of the growth phase from panicle initiationto flowering (GS2) and from flowering to maturity (GS3) was320 and 390 degree days (°Cd), respectively. There was nodifference in rates of leaf or tiller appearance or developmentbetween MS and PTs. Tiller appearance, tiller leaf appearanceand tiller apical development all ceased at the same time inthe later initiated PTs, approximately 550 °Cd from sowing,shortly after rapid stem growth had begun. Tillers that didnot survive were all vegetative or in the early stages of reproductivedevelopment at this time The rate of accumulation of dry matter per plant was similarin all DVP treatments, but in the longer DVP treatments a greaterproportion of the dry matter was partitioned to the MS. Mainshootstem and panicle growth rates were increased by a longer DVP,as was grain yield on the MS, and these were related to increasedMS leaf area. Concurrently, growth rates and yields in laterinitiated tillers were reduced in relation to their leaf areas.Stem growth rate was proportionately increased more than paniclegrowth rate in the longer DVP treatments and this, combinedwith a longer duration of stem growth, resulted in greater stemdry matter at maturity and, therefore, in reduced harvest index.     

Effects of Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) damage on sugarcane yield

Feeding by lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), larvae on sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.) causes leaf damage, dead hearts, and dead plants that can result in stand and yield loss. A 2-yr greenhouse experiment was conducted to examine sugarcane variety and plant age-specific feeding responses to E. lignosellus. Plants growing from single-eye setts of three varieties were exposed to a single generation of E. lignosellus larvae beginning at the three-, five-, and seven-leaf stages. Results indicated that the physical damage and resulting yield loss of plants attacked by E. lignosellus larvae were dependent on the variety and leaf stage at which they were infested. Significantly more plant damage was observed in all three varieties when infested at the three- than at the seven-leaf stage. Larvae caused significantly more plant damage and reduced yield in CP 89-2143 than in CP 78-1628. Tiller production increased in CP78-1628 and CP 88-1762 when infested at the three-leaf stage, whereas tiller production, biomass and sugar yield decreased in CP 89-2143 when infested at all leaf stages, compared with the untreated control. There was no reduction in yield when CP 78-1628 was infested at the three- or five-leaf stages. Biomass was reduced in CP 88-1762 when plants were infested at any of the leaf stages, but sugar yield was reduced only when infested at the seven-leaf stage. These results indicate that compensation in response to E. lignosellus damage was variety dependent and declined with the delay in infestation time.