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Title: Categorizing sugarcane cultivar resistance to the sugarcane aphid and yellow sugarcane aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Author
item AKBAR, WASEEM - Louisiana State University
item Showler, Allan
item White, William
item REAGAN, THOMAS - Louisiana State University

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/22/2010
Publication Date: 8/1/2010
Citation: Akbar, W., Showler, A.T., White, W.H., Reagan, T.E. 2010. Categorizing sugarcane cultivar resistance to the sugarcane aphid and yellow sugarcane aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 103(4):1431-1437.

Interpretive Summary: Economically important virus diseases of sugarcane are vectored by two aphid species in the United States, and bases of crop resistance have not been identified. This greenhouse study tested different types of possible resistance mechanisms which include tolerance, repellency, and host plant suitability for aphid reproduction. We found that some varieties, such as HoCP 91-555, are resistant by impinging negatively on aphid population growth.

Technical Abstract: Sugarcane in the U.S. is chiefly colonized by two aphid species, the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari, and the yellow sugarcane aphid, Sipha flava, which vector economically important viruses of the crop. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to categorize commercial sugarcane cultivars for their ability to tolerate, or to express antixenotic and antibiotic effects on both aphid species. Antixenosis tests showed no preference among cultivars by either aphid species. Loss of chlorophyll content in tolerance tests also did not show differences among cultivars, but antibiosis tests revealed that several life history parameters were affected on the variety HoCP 91-555 as compared to L 97-128. Both aphid species exhibited lower intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of increase, and longest generation time and doubling time on HoCP 91-555 relative to L 97-128. Tested cultivars can be ranked from most to least susceptible as L 97-128>LCP 85-384>HoCP 96-540>Ho 95-988>HoCP 91-555 for the sugarcane aphid, and L 97-128>LCP 85-384>HoCP 91-555 for the yellow sugarcane aphid. This study suggests that antibiosis is the dominant basis of resistance in sugarcane to both aphid species, and HoCP 91-555 might be useful for developing aphid resistant cultivars.