Xinzhi Ni, xni@tifton.usda.gov1, Jeffrey P. Wilson, jwilson@tifton.usda.gov1, John F. Rajewski, jrajewsk@unlnotes.unl.edu2, and David Buntin, gbuntin@griffin.uga.edu3. (1) USDA-ARS, Crop Genetics and Breeding Research Unit, P.O. Box 748, Tifton, GA, (2) University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Lincoln, NE, (3) University of Georgia, Georgia Experiment Station - Entomology, Griffin, GA
Chinch bug [Blissus leucopterus leucopterus(Say) (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)] is one of the most important insect pests for pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L. R. Br.) production in the U.S.A. The insect causes stunting and necrosis of the young seedlings, and loss of crop stand in severe infestations. Insect numbers, visual stunting and necrosis ratings, crop stand losses were used to determine chinch bug resistance among sixteen selected pearl millet germplasm (including inbreds and hybrids). Three of the sixteen entries showed resistance to chinch bug feeding. In contrast, two susceptible entries showed over 60% of stand loss. In addition, chlorophyll content and photosynthesis efficiency were measured to elucidate the mechanism of chinch bug resistance.
Species 1: Hemiptera Blissidae
Blissus leucopterus (Chinch Bug)
Keywords: Necrosis, Stand Loss
