Effect of herbicide on morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes in red maple cultivar

Monday, November 14, 2022

9:00 AM – 9:12 AM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 211

Presenting Author(s)

AG

Asmita Gautam

Tennessee State University
McMinnville, Tennessee

Co-Author(s)

KA

Karla Michele Addesso

Research Associate Professor
Tennessee State University
McMinnville, Tennessee
CP

Cindy L. Perkovich

Assistant Professor of Biology
Ashland University
Barberton, Ohio
PO

Paul O'Neal

Research Associate
Tennessee State University
McMinnville, Tennessee

Red maples are popular ornamental shade trees well known for their stunning autumn color and fast growth rate. The most damaging insect pests in red maple production are flatheaded borers (Chrysobothris spp.). Borer infestations are most common on stressed and recently transplanted trees. To date, little information is available on the susceptibility of maples to borer attack. A recent study demonstrated that flatheaded borer attacks were induced by herbicide-stress on 'Brandywine' red maples. Previous studies also identified the Freeman maple hybrid ‘Autumn Blaze’ as resistant to flatheaded borers. The objective of this study is to evaluate different maple cultivars under herbicide stress and unstressed conditions and assess changes in morphological, physiological, biochemical attributes of the trees to identify traits correlated with borer resistance in the field. One year old hybrid Freeman maple ‘Autumn Blaze’ and three red maples cultivars (‘Brandywine’, ‘Sun Valley’, and ‘October Glory’) will be evaluated for plant growth, chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation and polyphenols following foliar applications of the herbicides Scythe (2.5%) or Roundup (0.8%). Cultivar traits associated with borer resistance will be identified. This research will help to identify maple traits that can be used to screen commercial cultivars and future breeding lines for flatheaded borer resistance. The identification of maple cultivars resistant to flatheaded borers will allow growers to make more informed decisions about tree selection in areas where borers are most problematic.