Leaf Rolling and Corn Rootworm Feeding As An Indicator of Drought Yield.

Much of the United States agricultural lands suffered from severe drought in 2012.  The purpose of this research was to test the hypothesis that in a drought year at corn on corn locations, leaf rolling is an indicator of excess corn root worm feeding, and both are negatively associated with grain yield.  Data from four different locations were collected.  Each location had twenty paired experimental hybrids and twenty commercial checks.  The paired hybrids were double-stacked varieties with glyphosate tolerance and above ground insect protection as well as triple-stacked varieties that added below ground insect protection.  Leaf rolling scores, corn rootworm feeding scores and yield data were taken and the results were analyzed.