Evaluation of sorghum varieties for resistance to the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner)

The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), is a new economic pest on sorghum grown in the United States. The limited number of commercial sorghum hybrids with resistance to sugarcane aphid has required reliance on insecticide applications to manage the aphid.  Additional insecticide applications for sugarcane aphid management has increased input costs thereby prohibiting sorghum production in water limited environments. Sugarcane aphid resistant sorghum would reduce reliance on insecticides to manage the aphid thus preserving production goals while limiting input costs. Commercial and non-commercial sorghum varieties were evaluated for resistance to the the sugarcane aphid at several Texas locations. Results of screening sorghum varieties for resistace to the sugarcane aphid are reported in this presentation.