White clover and grass grub

Abstract

Twenty-three lines of white clover were screened for resistance or tolerance to larvae of grass grub, Costelytra zealandica (White). No resistance was identified but one line from Italy exhibited some tolerance. Control plants of Lotus pedunculalus expressed resistance, confirming the usefulness of the method used. By presenting increases in larval biomass in relation to the amount of root material remaining undamaged at the end of the experiment it was possible to identify plants which exhibited true resistance, apparent resistance, and tolerance.