TY - JOUR AV - restricted UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7348.1994.tb04984.x IS - 3 PB - Association of Applied Biologists TI - Morphological factors of the central whorl leaf associated with leaf surface wetness and resistance in sorghum to shoot fly, Atherigona soccata A1 - Sree, P S A1 - Nwanze, K F A1 - Butler, D R A1 - Reddy, D D R A1 - Reddy, Y V R N1 - The above studies were part of the Ph.D. Thesis of P S Sree submitted to the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University. J Raja Rao, Md Zaheeruddin. Venkatesh, Surya Prakash and V Subrahmanian provided assistance during the course of these studies. SN - 1744-7348 VL - 125 N2 - Earlier studies showed that leaf surface water on the central whorl leaf of sorghum seedlings is associated with resistance to shoot fly. In this study, the results of an experiment to determine if leaf surface wetness (LSW) originates from atmospheric condensation or from the plant are described. Morphological structures: trichomes, stomata, leaf cuticle and quantity of surface wax of the central whorl leaf were also examined for their role in LSW production. The results suggest that LSW of the central whorl leaf originates from the plant and is not due to condensation of atmospheric moisture. The presence of trichomes was indirectly associated with LSW and resistance to shoot fly but stomatal density was not associated with LSW production. The amount of wax extracted per 100 mg of fresh weight varied significantly between genotypes and seedling age. It was more in susceptible than in resistant genotypes; however, cuticular thickness was not associated with resistance. It is suggested that LSW could be the result of some form of cuticular movement of water to the leaf surface. SP - 467 Y1 - 1994/// EP - 476 ID - icrisat3239 JF - Annals of Applied Biology ER -