Mealybug, Phenococcus solani, and barley aphid, Sipha maydis, response to endophyte-infected tall and meadow fescues |
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Authors: | Mohammad Reza Sabzalian,Bijan Hatami ,& Aghafakhr Mirlohi |
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Affiliation: | Department of Plant Breeding, and;Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran |
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Abstract: | Mealybugs and aphids are insects which damage grass species. The effects of fungal endophytes on the feeding of the mealybug, Phenococcus solani Ferris (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae), and barley aphid, Sipha maydis Passerini (Homoptera: Aphididae), on tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreb. and meadow fescue, Festuca pratensis Huds., were studied under greenhouse conditions. Mealybugs preferred endophyte‐free (E–) clones over their endophyte‐infected (E+) counterparts. E+ plants had a significantly lower number of mealybugs than E– plants. A mixture of E+ and E– plants supported intermediate mealybug numbers, between pure plantings of E+ and E– grasses. Barley aphids released on to plant materials were deterred from feeding and could not persist on E+ plants. E– plants did not survive because of aphid damage, while E+ plants generally re‐grew, but were damaged to some degree. The results showed that the use of pure stands of endophyte‐infected grasses or a mixed stand of infected and non‐infected plants may increase the persistence and durability of turf and forage grass species in the presence of foliar damaging insects. |
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Keywords: | barley aphid endophyte meadow fescue mealybug tall fescue Homoptera Pseudococcidae Aphididae Neotyphodium Clavicipitaceae Festuca biological control |
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