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Title: Establishment and host effects of cereal aphids on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cultivars

Author
item Burd, John
item PRASIFKA, JARRAD - University Of Illinois
item BRADSHAW, JEFFREY - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Southwestern Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2011
Publication Date: 6/1/2012
Citation: Burd, J.D., Prasifka, J.R., Bradshaw, J.D. 2012. Establishment and host effects of cereal aphids on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cultivars. Southwestern Entomologist. 37(2):115-122.

Interpretive Summary: Potential widespread plantings of switchgrass for use as a high biomass-yielding crop for use in the cellulosic production of ethanol prompted its evaluation as a suitable host for economically important cereal aphids. Seedlings of four cultivars of switchgrass, 'Kanlow' (southern range), 'Blackwell' and 'Cave-n-Rock' (mid range), and 'Sunburst' (northern range) ecotypes, were evaluated for their suitability as hosts for greenbug biotypes E, I, and Florida, Russian wheat aphid biotype 2, bird-cherry oat aphid, corn leaf aphid, English grain aphid, and yellow sugarcane aphid. Switchgrass was not a suitable host for greenbug biotype E or Russian wheat aphid biotype 2, the two most prevalent and economically important cereal aphids in the United States. All switchgrass cultivars tested were suitable hosts for greenbug biotypes I and Florida, bird-cherry oat aphid, corn leaf aphid, and yellow sugarcane aphid. There were no plant-ecotype or adaption-range by aphid effects observed. Plant suitability only differed among the aphids tested. However, clear differential plant responses among the greenbug biotypes were observed, suggesting the potential for developing greenbug biotype-specific resistant cultivars.

Technical Abstract: Potential widespread plantings of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) for use as a high biomass-yielding crop for use in the cellulosic production of ethanol prompted its evaluation as a suitable host for economically important cereal aphids. Seedlings of four cultivars of switchgrass, 'Kanlow' (southern range), 'Blackwell' and 'Cave-n-Rock' (mid range), and 'Sunburst' (northern range) ecotypes, were evaluated for their suitability as hosts for greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rond.) biotypes E, I, and Florida, Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Kurdj.) biotype 2, bird-cherry oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), corn leaf aphid, R. maidis (Fitch), English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.), and yellow sugarcane aphid, Sipha flava (Forbes). Switchgrass was not a suitable host for greenbug biotype E or Russian wheat aphid biotype 2, the two most prevalent and economically important cereal aphids in the United States. All switchgrass cultivars tested were suitable hosts for greenbug biotypes I and Florida, bird-cherry oat aphid, corn leaf aphid, and yellow sugarcane aphid. There were no ecotype effects observed, however, clear differential plant responses among the greenbug biotypes were observed, suggesting the potential for developing greenbug biotype-specific resistant cultivars.