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ARS Home » Plains Area » Stillwater, Oklahoma » Wheat, Peanut, and Other Field Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #306102
Title: Screening for host plant resistance to the sugarcane aphid in grain sorghum

Author
item Armstrong, John - Scott
item PETERSON, GARY - Texas A&M Agrilife
item ROONEY, BILL - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/6/2014
Publication Date: 6/26/2014
Citation: Armstrong, J.S., Peterson, G.C., Rooney, B.L. 2014. Screening for host plant resistance to the sugarcane aphid in grain sorghum. Proceedings of the 2014 Sorghum Improvement Conference of North America (SICNA) Meeting, June 25-27, 2014, Corpus Christi, Texas. p. 16.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The sugarcane aphid has increased in distribution into the southern United States causing economic damage to grain sorghum by infesting what is generally considered later in the production season. Typically, after two years of observation, the infestations explode with sorghum plants entering the boot to heading stages. Not only is there a reduction in grain yield due to heavy infestations, but harvesting is negatively impacted because machinery, including the augers, are gummed-up from the honeydew and or aphids that are covering the plant at the time of harvest. Finding sources of host-plant resistance in grain sorghum germplasm would have a significant impact in reducing this aphid problem. We report here some of the first efforts of identifying resistant sources of grain sorghum to the sugarcane aphid by evaluating known sources that have been developed for the greenbug. This is identified as cross-resistance, and maybe used in a rather short period of time while other sources are discovered and used in breeding programs.