Abstract
Abstract During the summer of 1974, 24–61% of young lucerne plants died in a stand in the Manawatu sand country from the activity of white-fringed weevil larvae (Graphognathus leucoloma Boh.). A glasshouse experiment was conducted using 8–week-old ‘Wairau’ lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) plants, at three levels of larval population and two levels of soil moisture content (10% and 20% soil dry weight). Larval survival was not affected by soil moisture, but lucerne mortality was significantly greater at 10% soil moisture and there was a trend towards higher plant mortality at higher larval populations. At 10% soil moisture, plants with a severed tap root or severely damaged root system died. At 20% soil moisture some plants with a severed tap root survived by producing lateral roots and those with severe damage to the tap root died.
Published Version
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