Jukka Selander , Auli Immonen

Effect of fertilization and watering of Scots pine seedlings on the feeding preference of the pine weevil (Hylobius abietis L.).

Selander J., Immonen A. (1992). Effect of fertilization and watering of Scots pine seedlings on the feeding preference of the pine weevil (Hylobius abietis L.). Silva Fennica vol. 26 no. 2 article id 5476. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a15637

Abstract

Two-year-old containerized Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings, raised under different fertilization and watering regimes, were subjected to feeding preference tests with pine weevils (Hylobius abietis L.) in a bioassay. In the tests carried out with pairs of seedlings, the weevil preferred water-stressed seedlings to well-watered ones. In the case of well-watered seedlings, the weevil caused significantly more damage to NPK-fertilized seedlings than those given pure PK fertilization, or no fertilization at all. It is apparent that PK fertilization reduces, and water stress increases seedling susceptibility to weevil damage. The results support findings from field trials that water stress (planting shock) predisposes seedlings to weevil damage. Weevil resistance is discussed with respect to fertilization and water stress as determinants of seedling quality.

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Keywords
Pinus sylvestris; fertilization; pine weevil; water stress; Hylobius abietis; seedlings; feeding preference

Published in 1992

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Available at https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a15637 | Download PDF