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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #319507
Title: Genetic studies on sugarcane aphid resistance in sorghum

Author
item Harris-Shultz, Karen
item Ni, Xinzhi
item Knoll, Joseph - Joe
item CATO, CAITLIN - Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
item Anderson, William - Bill

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/16/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: not required.

Technical Abstract: In the southern United States, the white sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari) has recently become a major pest of sorghum. The aphid population can build up rapidly on the undersides of sorghum leaves causing leaf damage, leaf death, stunting, delayed flowering, and plant death. Furthermore, the overwhelming numbers of sugarcane aphids excrete honeydew, a sticky sugary liquid waste, which clogs harvest equipment, and causes further yield and grain quality loss. The identification and incorporation of multiple resistance genes into sorghum hybrids is needed if sorghum is to be grown in areas with high sugarcane aphid infestation. A previous study identified a dominant gene, RMES1 on chromosome 6, which confers resistance to the sugarcane aphid in a grain sorghum line. August of 2014 was the first year of sugarcane aphid detection in Tifton, GA. A sweet sorghum line was identified, Entry 22, that displayed resistance to the white sugarcane aphid. This line was crossed with susceptible line AN109, and analysis of the F1 and F2 population revealed that the resistance is likely conferred by a major recessive gene. Furthermore, no linkage exists between the previously reported dominant RMES1 locus and this newly identified recessive gene. The F3 population is currently being evaluated this season in which the aphid infestation started at the seedling stage, instead of at flowering time as last year.