Interactive effect of elevated CO2 and temperature on the biochemical constituents of maize, Zea mays (L.) and its impact on the fecundity of maize aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (F.)

The objective of this study was to estimate and analyze the biochemical constituents viz., Carbon based compounds (carbon, total soluble sugars, starch and carbohydrates), nitrogen based compounds (nitrogen, proteins, tannins, amino acids and total polyphenols) and C:N ratio of maize (Zea mays L.) crop foliage at 30-90 days after sowing (DAS) under elevated and ambient concentrations of CO2 (550 and 380ppm ± 25 ppm, respectively) at six temperatures (20, 25, 27, 30, 33 and 35 °C) and correlate with the fecundity of maize aphid Rhopalosiphum maidis (F.). The results indicated that the percentage of nitrogen (4.36-7.30%), amino acids (11.54-17.40%) and proteins (5.26-11.03%) were significantly decreased while increased carbon (1.08-4.58%), carbon to nitrogen (C: N) (6.96-9.64%), total soluble sugars (2.47-7.14%), starch (3.67-7.01%), carbohydrates (3.08-6.93%), tannins (3.80-7.54%) and total polyphenols (2.70-16.95%) enhanced the nutritional quality of maize foliage under elevated CO2 and temperatures.