Shoot bug incidence on sorghum in southern India

摘要

Of the insect pests of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], shoot bug (Peregrinus maidis Ashmead) (Delphacidae: Homoptera) has attained serious pest status due to the introduction of hybrids that mature at different times in certain parts of AndhraPradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. In India shoot bugs can cause 41 percent losses (Hosmani and Chittapur, 1997). Both nymphs and adults suck the sap of young leaves, resulting in leaf chlorosis that in severe cases causes stunted growth and shrivelled, chaffy grains (Prabhakar et al. 1981). Severe infestation at the boot stage results in the top leaves twisting and preventing the emergence of the panicles (Agarwal et al. 1978). In the Telangana region of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, this pest causes severe damage to sorghum crops. Shoot bug incidence on 20 promising sorghum genotypes was studied.