Sugarcane aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae): Host range and sorghum resistance including cross-resistance from greenbug sources

Authors: Armstrong, John; ROONEY, WILLIAM - Texas A&M University; PETERSON, GARY - Texas A&M University; VILLENUEVA, RAUL - Texas A&M University; BREWER, MICHAEL - Texas A&M University; SEKULA-ORTIZ, DANIELLE - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/2014
Publication Date: 4/1/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/60660
Citation: Armstrong, J.S., Rooney, W.L., Peterson, G.C., Villenueva, R.T., Brewer, M.J., Sekula-Ortiz, D. 2015. Sugarcane aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae): Host range and sorghum resistance including cross-resistance from greenbug sources. Journal of Economic Entomology. 108(2):576-582.

Interpretive Summary: We studied the host range of the newly emerging sorghum pest called the sugarcane aphid. The aphid only liked sorghum genotypes, including Johnsongrass, which is in the same genus as sorghum. The sugarcane aphid also likes forage sorghums, which could potentially be a problem for the livestock industry. There are about 9 very good sources of resistance from parental sorghum lines that are used in breeding programs that can be used for breeding resistance to the sugarcane aphid. Some of these come from previously known sources of greenbug resistant sorghums, and have been proven to be cross resistant to sugarcane aphid. Sorghum breeding programs will now have the means to breed resistant varieties of sorghum to this devastating pest.

Technical Abstract: The graminous host range, and sources of sorghum plant resistance including cross resistance from greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rond.) sorghums, [Sorghum bicolor L.) Moench], were studied for the newly emerging sugarcane aphid Melanaphis sacchari, (Zehntner) in greenhouse no-choice experiments and field evaluations. Only sorghum genotypes served as valid hosts for the sugarcane aphid (SCA) including Johnsongrass, a highly suitable non-crop host that generates high numbers of SCA and maintains moderate phenotypic injury. The greenbug (GB) resistant parental line RTX 2783 that is resistant to GB biotypes C and E, was resistant to SCA in both greenhouse and field tests, while PI 55607 GB resistant to biotypes B, C, and E was highly susceptible. PI 55610 that is GB resistant to biotypes B, C, and E maintained moderate resistance to the SCA, while GB resistant PI 264453 was highly susceptible to SCA. Four lines from Texas A&M breeding program B11070-CS2-CS1-WF3, B11070-CS2-CS1-WF3, AB11055-WF1-CS1/RTx436, and AB11055-WF1-CS1/RTx437 were highly resistant to SCA, as were parental types SC110, SC170, and South African lines Ent62/SADC, (Macia/TAM428)-LL9, (SV1*Sima/IS23250)-LG15. Tam428, a parental line that previously showed moderate resistance in South Africa and India, also showed moderate resistance in these evaluations. Overall, 9 of 20 parental entries tested for phenotypic damage in the field showed as excellent sources of resistance to the SCA and should utilized in breeding programs that develop agronomically acceptable sorghums for the southern regions of the United States.