Abstract
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production is significantly altered by the infestation of sucking insects, particularly aphids. Chemical sprays are not recommended for the management of aphids as wheat grains are consumed soon after crop harvests. Therefore, determining the susceptibility of different wheat genotypes and selecting the most tolerant genotype could significantly lower aphid infestation. This study evaluated the susceptibility of six different wheat genotypes (‘Sehar-2006’, ‘Shafaq-2006’, ‘Faisalabad-2008’, ‘Lasani-2008’, ‘Millat-2011’ and ‘Punjab-2011’) to three aphid species (Rhopalosiphum padi Linnaeus, Schizaphis graminum Rondani, Sitobion avenae Fabricius) at various growth stages. Seed dressing with insecticides and plant extracts were also evaluated for their efficacy to reduce the incidence of these aphid species. Afterwards, an economic analysis was performed to compute cost-benefit ratio and assess the economic feasibility for the use of insecticides and plant extracts. Aphids’ infestation was recorded from the seedling stage and their population gradually increased as growth progressed towards tillering, stem elongation, heading, dough and ripening stages. The most susceptible growth stage was heading with 21.89 aphids/tiller followed by stem elongation (14.89 aphids/tiller) and dough stage (13.56 aphids/tiller). The genotype ‘Punjab-2011’ recorded the lower aphid infestation than ‘Faisalabad-2008’, ‘Sehar-2006’, ‘Lasani-2008’ and ‘Shafaq-2006’. Rhopalosiphum padi appeared during mid-February, whereas S. graminum and S. avenae appeared during first week of March. Significant differences were recorded for losses in number of grains/spike and 1000-grain weight among tested wheat genotypes. The aphid population had non-significant correlation with yield-related traits. Hicap proved the most effective for the management of aphid species followed by Hombre and Husk among tested seed dressers, while Citrullus colocynthis L. and Moringa oleifera Lam. plant extracts exhibited the highest efficacy among different plant extracts used in the study. Economic analysis depicted that use of Hombre and Hicap resulted in the highest income and benefit cost ratio. Therefore, use of genotype Punjab-2011’ and seed dressing with Hombre and Hicap can be successfully used to lower aphid infestation and get higher economic returns for wheat crop.
Highlights
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an imperative, nutritious and economical source for staple food in the world [1], which is utilized by >35% of global human population [2]
Rhopalosiphum padi Linnaeus, Schizaphis graminum Rondani and Sitobion avenae Fabricius are the most abundant aphid species prevailing in wheat crop in Pakistan [10,11]
Materials and methods Population dynamics of aphid species in different wheat genotypes Field experiment regarding population dynamics of R. padi, S. graminum, and S. avenae at various growth stages of different wheat genotypes was conducted at the research area of the Entomological Research Institute (31 ̊2504500N, 73 ̊404400E), Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Summary
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an imperative, nutritious and economical source for staple food in the world [1], which is utilized by >35% of global human population [2]. Different insect pests attack wheat crop and among these aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are responsible for major economic damages as these directly feed on the plants and indirectly transmit diseases [8,9]. Rhopalosiphum padi Linnaeus, Schizaphis graminum Rondani and Sitobion avenae Fabricius are the most abundant aphid species prevailing in wheat crop in Pakistan [10,11]. These species suck the sap from leaves and shoot and transmit numerous plant diseases [12,13]. Sap-sucking from leaves, shoot and inflorescence cause significant yield reduction (35–40% directly and 20–80% indirectly by transmission of viral and fungal diseases) [14]. In the case of S. graminum, 30% yield losses have been recorded in unsprayed experimental field, S. avenae outbreak caused 20–30% yield losses [11]
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