Evaluation of Diversity Methods for Assessing Saccharicoccus ‎sacchari Infestation and‏ ‏its Population Ecology on Sugarcane ‎

Karem M. Mohanny(1) Ahmed M. M. Ebieda*(2)  Ghada S. Mohamed(1) Refaat O.H. Allam(1) and Marwa A. A. Sadan(2)

(1). Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, South Valley University, Egypt.

(2). Sugar Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Ahmed M. M. Ebieda. E-Mail:ahmedebieeda@yahoo.com).

Received: 24/08/2020                               Accepted: 15/10/2020

Abstract

The current work was carried out at the El-Mattana Agricultural Research Station, Luxor Governorate during the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons to assess the best possible expression to S. sacchari (SS)infestation and its population ecology. Six promising sugarcane cultivars  were  utilized. Six infestation techniques of SS were applied (i.e. Population density (PD), infested internode numbers (IIN), IIN %), infested stalk numbers (Isn), Isn % and infestation index (II)). For determination PD, nymphs, females, adult females and all stages were detected to select the best expression for PD. All stages of SS per 10 plants were used because the females and the adult females were small numbers. The population ecology of SS is changed, now sexual dimorphism not available because the male is absent but the parthenogenetic mode of reproduction is only observed in Egypt. Sep had the highest rates of infestation across two seasons.  The  largest  ranges  for  nymph  &  all  stages  were  between  15  Aug  and  15  Dec  and  for  females and adult females  between  15  Aug  and  1  October. G3 and GT54-9 were highly sensitive and G4 had a high tolerance. At the same time, the grades G48-47, G2003-44 and G 99-103 are moderately susceptible to SS infestation. The  cultivars  being  tested  as  well  as  the  seasons  varied  greatly  in  their  susceptibility  to  S. sacchari based   on   the   various   their  properties or seasons. The comparing correlations between climatic parameters and infested techniques revealed that the best expression for SS to infest sugarcane was IIN%, Isn and Isn%.

Key words: Sugarcane, Saccharicoccus sacchari, Population ecology.

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