Does Root Injury by Corn Rootworm Affect the Response of Corn to Plant Density and Defoliation?.

Most university studies evaluating optimal plant populations for corn have been conducted in production environments where yield potential has not been limited by the corn rootworm (CRW) or the first year CRW variant. Early season defoliation may weaken corn plants, delay growth and development and predispose plants to greater damage from subsequent CRW injury. The objectives of this study were to determine plant population effects on the agronomic performance of corn hybrids with and without Bt CRW resistance in a continuous corn cropping system, and evaluate effects of early season defoliation on the yield potential of corn hybrids with and without Bt CRW resistance.