Growth tediousness as an explanation of over-compensation of crops for insect feeding

Abstract

Abstract: The over-compensation of crop plants for insect feedings arouses great interests, but little attention has been paid to the explanation of the phenomenon. This paper presents a concept of tediousness in growth of crops which is found frequently in plant height, leaf area, number of branches or tillers, number of reproductive organs, duration of growth stages and the ratio of biomass to economic yield. The tediousness increases with the increasing input of subsidiary energy. Essentially, the tediousness in growth is an ecological strategy of an organism to adapt itself to the fluctuating environment, increasing the stability of reproduction and decreasing the risk of extinction. However, this inherent property causes a waste of energy and is a burden on the higher crop yields when the environmental conditions are improved or when the crops are supported and protected by human being. The reduction of tediousness with practices of crop growing and breeding has increased the crop yields. Insects can reduce the tediousness in some instances, which is proposed as a basic explanation of the over-compensation of crops for insect feedings.

Key words: Growth tediousness, Over-compensation, Ecological strategy, Insect pest control

Sheng Chengfa . Growth tediousness as an explanation of over-compensation of crops for insect feeding[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 1990, 1(1): 26-30.

References

[1] 上海师范大学生物系.1978.水稻栽培生理.上海科学技术出版社,上海,423.

[2] 中国农业科学院.1978.小麦栽培理论与技术.农业出版社,北京,505.

[3] 中国农业科学院.1986.中国稻作学.农业出版社,北京,746.

[4] 中国农业科学院郑州果树研究所等.1987.中国果树栽培学.农业出版社,北京,1230.

[5] 李竞雄等.1959.作物栽培(修订本).高等教育出版社,北京,766.

[6] 庞居勤等.1983, 鲁棉一号.科学普及出版社,北京,80.

[7] 吴绍骙等.1980.玉米栽培生理.上海科学技术出版社,上海,360.

[8] 赵荣琛.1958.蔬莱栽培学.高等教育出版社,北京,514.

[9] 金善宝.1961.中国小麦栽培学.农业出版社,北京,626.

[10] 郑泽荣等.1980.棉花生理.科学出版社,北京,348.

[11] 轻工业部甘蔗搪业科学研究所等.1985.中国甘蔗栽培学.农业出版社,北京,568.

[12] 盛承发.1985.华北棉区第二代棉铃虫的经济阑值.昆虫学报,28: 382-389.

[13] 盛承发.1987.防治棉铃虫的新策略.科学出版社,北京,114.

[14] 潘瑞炽.1979.水稻生理.科学出版社,北京,477.

[15] 松岛省三著(庞诚译). 1979, 稻作的理论与技术(增订本).农业出版社,北京,359.

[16] Banks, C, J.et al. 1967.Effects of Aphis fa-bae Scop, and of its attendant ants and insect predators on yields of Leans (yicia faba L.).Ann, Appl.Bio1. , 60:445-453.

[17] Bardner, R.et al. 1974. Insect infestations and their effects on. the growth and yield of fiel crops:a review.Bull.Ent.Res. , 64:141-160.

[18] Brewer, M, J.et a1.1987, Development of sum-mer squash seedlings damaged by striped and spotted cucumber beetles (Coleoptera: Chryso-melidae).J.Econ. Entomol.,80:1004-1009.

[19] Gutierrez, A, P.et a1.1979, The interaction of cotton and boll weevil(Lepidoptera;Gelichiidae)-a study of co-adaptation, Can. Ent., 111:357-356.

[20] Harris, P, 1974, A possible explanation of plantyield increases following insect damage. Agro-Ecosystems, 1:219-225.

[21] H:ck, D, R, et a1.l969, Effect of floral bud remo-val on performance of soybeans, Crop Sci., 9:435-437.

[22] Humphries, E. C. 1958. Effect of removal ofthe Toot-system of barley on the production of ears.Ann.Bot., 22:417-422.

[23] Hussep, N. W.et al. l963. The effect of glas-shouse red spider mite (Tetranychus urticaeKoch)on the yield of cucumbers.l.Hort. Sci., 38:255-263.

[24] Pechaa, P.A. et al. 1985. Defoliation and its effects oa pod and seed development in oil seed rape (Brassica napus L.).J. Exp.BOt., 36(184):458-488.

[25] Sheng, C.F.1987.Economic threshold of cotton bollworm in cotton.Ph.D dissertation. Institute of Zoology, Academia Sinica, Beijing.150pp.

[26] Skuhravy, Y . lass. Einfluss der Entblatterung and des KartoffelkaferfraBes auf die Kartoffe-lerate.Anz.Schadlingsk.,41:180-188.

[27] Sterling, W.L.et a1.lsss.Economics of early-season fleahopper control in Texas. Proc. Belt-wide Cotton Prod. Res. Conf. New Orleans, Lou}siana, USA, pp. 374-379.

[28] Wilson, L.T.1986. Developing economic thre-sholds in cottoa.in R.E.Frisbie(eds.) Integrated Pest Management on Major Agricultural Sys-tems.Tex.Agr.Exp.St.MP 1616:308-344.