Resistance of sorghum varieties to the shoot fly, Atherigona soccata Rondani (Diptera: Muscidae) in Southern Africa

Berg, J Van Den and Bronkhorst, L and Mgonja, M and Obilana, A B (2005) Resistance of sorghum varieties to the shoot fly, Atherigona soccata Rondani (Diptera: Muscidae) in Southern Africa. International Journal of Pest Management, 51 (1). pp. 1-5. ISSN 0967-0874

PDF Restricted to ICRISAT users only Download (69kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

The sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata Rondani (Diptera: Muscidae), is considered to be the predominant shoot fly species attacking sorghum. No information is available on the levels of resistance of to A. soccata sorghum varieties and breeding material released in the countries of the Southern African Development Community. Three field trials were conducted during the 1998/99 to 2001/2002 growing seasons to determine the level of resistance of sorghum varieties to shoot fly. Twenty-five varieties were evaluated in two of the seasons and 24 in the other. High shoot fly densities in the trials were achieved by planting late and using fishmeal to attract flies to the fields. The incidence of dead-heart symptoms in each variety was determined 4 weeks after seedling emergence. Significant differences in resistance to shoot fly damage were observed in two of the three seasons. The incidence of dead-heart symptoms ranged from 32 to 71% during the 1998/99 season, from 27 to 54% during the 1999/2000 season and from 58 to 88% in the 2001/02 seasons. Varieties Pirira-1 and Pirira-2 were the most resistant across seasons. Although the level of resistance in many of the sorghum varieties was low, several varieties with moderate levels of resistance were identified.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Subjects:	Others > Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics
Depositing User:	Library ICRISAT
Date Deposited:	11 Sep 2011 06:53
Last Modified:	11 Sep 2011 06:53
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/1173
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09670870400016503
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	UNSPECIFIED
Links:	Author

View Statistics

Actions (login required)

View Item