Publication Date
1997
Description
Spittlebugs are the most damaging pasture pests in tropical America where extensive monocultures of Signal grasses, especially Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk, have favored the buildup of spittlebug populations. Under severe spittlebug attack, the entire above-ground portion of the plant dries and eventually dies, thereby reducing the carrying capacity of infested pastures. Host plant resistance is a low-cost method of controlling spittlebugs. High level of spittlebug resistance is found in the cultivar Marandu (B. brizantha), but it requires more fertile soils. Brachiaria germoplasm is being screened for spittlebug resistance. In the present study, 30 introductions of Brachiaria were evaluated for resistance to the spittlebug Zulia entreriana, based on the parameters: nymphal survival and nymphal period. The introduction CIAT 16309, a B. brizantha, was the only one selected as resistant in this test. Other 424 introductions and hybrids have already been screened. As a result 23 introductions and seven hybrids were found resistant.
Citation
Valerio, J R. and de Souza, A P., "Screening Tropical Forage Grasses for Resistance to the Spittlebugs (Homoptera: Cercopidae)" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1997-2023). 8.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session13/8
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Screening Tropical Forage Grasses for Resistance to the Spittlebugs (Homoptera: Cercopidae)
Spittlebugs are the most damaging pasture pests in tropical America where extensive monocultures of Signal grasses, especially Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk, have favored the buildup of spittlebug populations. Under severe spittlebug attack, the entire above-ground portion of the plant dries and eventually dies, thereby reducing the carrying capacity of infested pastures. Host plant resistance is a low-cost method of controlling spittlebugs. High level of spittlebug resistance is found in the cultivar Marandu (B. brizantha), but it requires more fertile soils. Brachiaria germoplasm is being screened for spittlebug resistance. In the present study, 30 introductions of Brachiaria were evaluated for resistance to the spittlebug Zulia entreriana, based on the parameters: nymphal survival and nymphal period. The introduction CIAT 16309, a B. brizantha, was the only one selected as resistant in this test. Other 424 introductions and hybrids have already been screened. As a result 23 introductions and seven hybrids were found resistant.
