Economic impact of Wheat streak mosaic virus in the Texas High Plains

Wheat streak mosaic virus, vectored by the wheat curl mite Aceria tosichella Keifer, is a major limiting factor in wheat production in the Texas Panhandle. It is the most frequently encountered virus in the region, affecting both shoot and root biomass, and consequently it can drastically reduce both forage and grain yield, and water-use efficiency of the plant. In light of the continuing decline of water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer, its effect on water-use efficiency has significant implications for irrigated fields, especially with regard to energy costs for pumping water. This article estimates the potential economic losses from the virus infection. To achieve this objective, partial budgeting techniques, based primarily on data from field experiments, were used. Results indicate that Wheat streak mosaic virus causes grain and forage yield losses that significantly affect profits from wheat production. In addition, irrigated wheat producers are more negatively affected by the disease due to the economic losses from reduced water-use efficiency of infected plants. The economic insights from this article provide important implications for wheat management and research priority-setting.     

Assessment of avoidable losses and economic injury levels for the sorghum head bug, Calocoris angustatus Leth. (Hemiptera:Miridae) in India

Avoidable losses and economic injury levels (EILs) were computed for the sorghum head bug, Calocoris angustatus Leth., on three cultivars during three rainy seasons (1985–1987) at ICRISAT. Grain yield in plots protected with 2–5 insecticide sprays (carbaryl at 500 g a.i./ha) between the half-anthesis and the dough stage was significantly higher than in untreated plots, with cost-benefit ratios > 1. Plots that were not protected at half-anthesis and/or complete-anthesis, and at milk and dough stages, suffered a significant loss in yield. Bug damage spoiled the grain quality in terms of germination, 1000-grain mass, grain hardness and percentage floaters. Three to four sprays between complete-anthesis and the dough stage prevented a significant reduction in grain quality. Head bug density at half-anthesis, complete-anthesis, milk and dough stages was significantly and negatively associated with grain yield. Bug density at different stages explained 43–94% of the variance in yield. Direct effects of bug numbers at the milk stage and the indirect effects of head bug density at other stages through the milk stage contributed towards maximum reduction in yield. Maximum avoidable losses were recorded in cultivar ICSV 1 (88·6%), followed by CSH 1 (69·9%), and CSH 5 (53·9% in 1986 and 55·0% in 1987). Loss in grain yield/ha due to one insect/panicle at half-anthesis and that based on natural increase, were 548 and 232 kg in CSH 5 during 1986 and 1987, respectively, 251 kg in ICSV 1, and 77 kg in CSH 1. EILs based on a cost-benefit ratio of 1:1 ranged from 1·3–1·4 insects/panicle for CSH 1, 0·4 for ICSV 1, and 0·4–0·6 and 0·2–0·4 for CSH 5 during 1986 and 1987, respectively. Simple cost estimates for insecticide sprays and the resultant saving in grain yield are a useful tool for decision-making in pest management.