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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #325154

Title: Sorghum studies by USDA Peoria Ag Lab in 2015

Author
item Dowd, Patrick
item Sattler, Scott

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/26/2016
Publication Date: 2/4/2016
Citation: Dowd, P.F., Sattler, S.E. 2016. Sorghum studies by USDA Peoria Ag Lab in 2015. Central Illinois Irrigated Growers Association, Irrigation Clinic. p. 1.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant funding permitted a continuation of experiments to evaluate insect damage to low lignin lines of sorghum at the Havana research site location, which are also being examined for bioenergy production. Although planting was delayed, results were similar to those from prior years, which indicated damage to low lignin sorghum lines was generally not greater than that for a normal line, and some greater insect resistance in low lignin lines was noted. Grasshoppers were the most common insect pests, with damage found on up to 17% of the plants. The incidence of grasshopper damage was consistently less on both of the bmr sorghum lines compared to the normal lignin line, and the amount of damage, when present, was often significantly less on the bmr lines. Shot hole type caterpillar damage occurred on up to 6% of the plants. When it occurred, there was often significantly less amounts of shot hole caterpillar damage on the bmr lines compared to the wild type lines. The most common caterpillars observed were cattail caterpillars, which have been reported as pests of sorghum in other states. Corn borer damage was very uncommon, and only a low percentage was seen on the normal lignin plants. Plant disease incidence was very common on some sample dates, and occurred on up to 74% of plants. In a few cases, the bmr12 plants had higher frequency and severity of disease symptoms compared to the bmr6 and normal lignin plants.