Brown Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Damage to Seedling Corn and Impact on Grain Yield

Brown stink bugs, Euschistus servus, are an important early-season pest of field corn in the southeastern United States. Feeding in the early stages of corn development can lead to a number of growth deformities and deficiencies and, ultimately, a reduction in yield. An observational and two experimentally manipulated trials were conducted in 2017 and 2018 to 1) determine optimal timing for assessing brown stink bug damage, 2) assess the level of damage from which yield compensation can occur, and 3) examine the relationship between brown stink bug density and early-season damage and yield. Fields were identified with infestations of brown stink bugs and a damage rating system for early stages of corn was established. Varying rates of brown stink bug densities were introduced using field cages and damage was assessed throughout the season. The density and duration of stink bug infestations were critical factors for damage potential, with each day of active feeding per plant resulting in a loss of ~14 kg/ha in yield. The level of damage in early stages of corn was categorized into easily identifiable groups, with only the most severe damage leading to a reduction in yield. Moderate and minimal feeding damage did not result in yield loss. This study emphasizes the need for early and frequent scouting of corn to determine the risk of damage and yield loss from brown stink bugs. Results from this study can be used to help develop management programs for brown stink bugs in the early vegetative stages of field corn.     

Economic injury levels for southern green stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in R7 growth stage soybeans

Stink bugs, primarily southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), are a major pest complex of soybeans (Glycine max) throughout the southern United States. Densities sometimes peak during late R6 and R7 soybean growth stages when soybeans are approaching physiology maturity and the rate of injury from stink bugs is reduced. Field cage trials were conducted from 2005 to 2008 to examine the type and extent of soybean damage caused by southern green stink bugs during the R7 growth stage. The yield response was variable, but overall was not significant. The impact of southern green stink bugs on quality was more consistent. Test weight decreased, and heat damage and total damage increased as stink bug density increased. Based on these data, three economic injury models were developed using different assumptions. The model that assumes no yield loss, does not predict economic injury within the range of stink bug densities tested. However, if the statistically non-significant yield losses are accepted as real, then the models suggest that the southern green stink bug economic injury level and action threshold for soybeans during R7 stage is generally between nine and 15 stink bugs per row m.     

大豆“荚而不实”型“症青”与蝽类害虫为害的相关性及防控策略

为探明大豆症青与蝽类害虫的相关性,解决目前黄淮海流域大豆生产上"荚而不实"型"症青"的问题,归纳总结最新研究进展,对"荚而不实"型"症青"与点蜂缘蝽(Riptortus pedestris)等蝽类害虫为害的相关性做了简要剖析,结合大豆蝽类害虫的发生及为害特点,提出了当前大豆"症青"的防控策略。重点针对点蜂缘蝽等蝽类害虫开展统防统治和兼防兼治,控制越冬和早春虫源,抓住花荚期科学防治。以期为开展大豆"症青"发生及防控研究提供参考。     

Yield losses in soybeans from frogeye leaf spot caused by Cercospora sojina

Three soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]cultivars (Samsoy 1, TGx 1025-12E and TGx 996-26E) were evaluated for yield losses resulting from frogeye leaf spot caused by Cercospora sojina Hara. Replicated field plots were established at two locations in Nigeria that have a high natural infestation of C. sojina. The cultivars were either not sprayed, sprayed once or sprayed twice during the growing season with the fungicide benomyl. Disease spread early in the season was from border rows of a susceptible soybean cultivar into the plots. Mean disease severity (DS) for unsprayed cultivars ranged from 0.6 to 4.5 on a scale of 0–5. Plots receiving two sprays had lower DS values, ranging from 0.5 to 2.4. Differences between unsprayed and double-sprayed plots for yield and 300-seed weight ranged from 2.5 to 58.8 and 0.6 to 28.6%, respectively. Seed weight was negatively correlated with DS.     

Seed variation among annual ryegrass cultivars in south-eastern USA and the relationship with seedling vigour and forage production

Abstract Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is grown on more than one million ha in the south‐eastern USA each year. Recommended and actual seeding rates vary substantially within the region. The objective of this study was to evaluate variation in seed weight, germination, seedling vigour and seasonal yield performance among annual ryegrass cultivars. During 1997, 1998 and 1999, seed from fourteen commercial cultivars was weighed and germinated to determine numbers of pure live seed (PLS) m^?2 before yield evaluation at four locations. Seed from ten cultivars was planted at 0·7 and 2·0 cm depth in a greenhouse study to evaluate relative seedling vigour. Cultivar mean single‐seed weight ranged from 2·4 to 4·8 mg in 1997, 1·8 to 4·5 mg in 1998, and 2·6 to 4·6 mg in 1999. Seed germination ranged from 78·8% to 98·0% in 1997, 82·3 to 98·3% in 1998 and 77·8 to 98·3% in 1999. Seed number, PLS m^?2, ranged from 675 to 1289 in 1997, 710 to 1550 in 1998, and 717 to 1179 in 1999. Among the ten cultivars evaluated for seedling vigour, seedling weight differed between planting depths and a significant cultivar by year interaction was observed. Seedling weight was highly correlated with seed weight at each seeding depth. The effect of increasing number of PLS m^?2 on subsequent yield performance, although small, was consistently negative. These results indicate that target plant populations may be obtained more economically by adjusting seeding rates for seed size differences among cultivars and seed lots of annual ryegrass.     

Aggregation and Association of NDVI,Boll Injury,and Stink Bugs in North Carolina Cotton

Sampling of herbivorous stink bugs in southeastern U.S. cotton remains problematic. Remote sensing was explored to improve sampling of these pests and associated boll injury. Two adjacent 14.5-ha cotton fields were grid sampled in 2011 and 2012 by collecting stink bug adults and bolls every week during the third, fourth, and fifth weeks of bloom. Satellite remote sensing data were collected during the third week of bloom during both years, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values were calculated. Stink bugs were spatially aggregated on the third week of bloom in 2011. Boll injury from stink bugs was spatially aggregated during the fourth week of bloom in 2012. The NDVI values were aggregated during both years. There was a positive association and correlation between stink bug numbers and NDVI values, as well as injured bolls and NDVI values, during the third week of bloom in 2011. During the third week of bloom in 2012, NDVI values were negatively correlated with stink bug numbers. During the fourth week of bloom in 2011, stink bug numbers and boll injury were both positively associated and correlated with NDVI values. During the fourth week of bloom in 2012, stink bugs were negatively correlated with NDVI values, and boll injury was negatively associated and correlated with NDVI values. This study suggests the potential of remote sensing as a tool to assist with sampling stink bugs in cotton, although more research is needed using NDVI and other plant measurements to predict stink bug injury.     

Effect of green-belly stink bug,Dichelops furcatus (F.) on wheat yield and development

The green belly stink bug, Dichelops furcatus (F.) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) is a pest of corn and soybean in southern Brazil. It also occurs on wheat, but information on its damage to this crop is limited. To determine the need for sustainable IPM programs, the impact of this bug on wheat production should be determined. Studies were conducted in the screenhouse with 1, 2 and 4 bugs caged for 16 days on single plants, cv. ‘BRS Parrudo’. During the vegetative period (plants ca. 25 cm tall), all infestation levels significantly reduced plant height and ear head length, but did not reduce grain yield. Feeding damage caused tissue necrosis on leaves. During the booting stage, grain yield was significantly reduced with 2 and 4 bugs per plant; ear heads were small, discolored and abnormally developed. In 2013 and 2014 field trials, plants were infested for 18 days with 2, 4 and 8 bugs per m² at vegetative, booting, and milky grain stage. At these infestation levels, there was no significant reduction in grain yield. There was a significant decrease in the number of normal seedlings resulting from seeds exposed to 8 bugs per m² at the milky grain stage. Results suggest that, in general, there is no need to control D. furcatus on wheat, unless numbers are ≥8 bugs per m² during reproductive period.     

Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Stink Bugs in Southeastern Farmscapes

A 3-yr study (2009–2011) was conducted to examine the spatial and temporal dynamics of stink bugs in three commercial farmscapes. Study locations were replicated in South Carolina and Georgia, in an agriculturally diverse region known as the southeastern coastal plain. Crops included wheat, Triticum aestivum (L.), corn, Zea mays (L.), soybean, Glycine max (L.), cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (L.), and peanut, Arachis hypogaea (L.). Farmscapes were sampled weekly using whole-plant examinations for corn, with all other crops sampled using sweep nets. The predominant pest species of phytophagous stink bugs were the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), the green stink bug, Chinavia hilaris (Say), and the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.). Chi-square tests indicated a departure from a normal distribution in 77% of analyses of the variance to mean ratio, with 37% of slopes of Taylor’s power law and 30% of coefficient β of Iwao’s patchiness regression significantly greater than one, indicating aggregated distributions. Spatial Analyses by Distance IndicEs (SADIE) indicated aggregated patterns of stink bugs in 18% of year-end totals and 42% of weekly counts, with 80% of adults and nymphs positively associated using the SADIE association tool. Maximum stink bug densities in each crop occurred when the plants were producing fruit. Stink bugs exhibited greater densities in crops adjacent to soybean in Barnwell and Lee Counties compared with crops adjacent to corn or fallow areas. The diversity of crops and relatively small size of fields in the Southeast leads to colonization of patches within a farmscape. The ecological and management implications of the spatial and temporal distribution of stink bugs within farmscapes are discussed.     

Decoy plantings for reducing blackbird damage to nearby commercial sunflower fields

Field tests were conducted in North Dakota in August, September and October 1981 to 1983 inclusive, to determine if decoy plantings of nine sunflower fields and one interplanted corn/sunflower field would reduce blackbird (Icterinae) damage to nearby commercial sunflower fields. Total seed consumption by blackbirds of sunflower (90 ha) and corn (7 ha) was 87860 kg, worth US$26533·72 based on the average 3-year market price of $0·302/kg. The average cost of planting a decoy field was $74/ha for a total cost of $7178. The yearly cost-benefit ratio varied from 1:2 · 1 to 1:4·7 with an overall study average of 1:3·7. From 1981 to 1983, the annual median seed consumption in decoy fields was 917, 1210, and 1121 kg/ha compared with surrounding commercial fields within 11 km of the decoy fields which had losses of 4,99 and 115 kg/ha, respectively. In 1981, a comparison of losses between sunflower fields in Bottineau County and commercial sunflower fields within 11 km of decoy fields provided statistical evidence (P =0·0651) that there was less damage to commercial fields surrounding the decoy crops; this difference in losses was attributed to the presence of the decoy fields. Average blackbird numbers observed entering decoy fields per minute per hectare were 69 (1981), 49 (1982) and 91 (1983). Peak roost populations associated with decoy fields ranged from 72000 to 215000 blackbirds. Overall, redwings constituted about 83% of all blackbirds observed in decoy fields.     

Heritability of agronomic traits correlated with reduced stink bug damage in an F2:3 soybean population derived from IAC-100

In Brazil, some of the most important insect pests causing damage to soybean (Glycine max) are stink bugs. Soybean production would increase if varieties with enhanced resistance were developed. The aim of this work was to examine different traits associated with plant development, and yield-related traits, in an F_2:3 soybean population in a stink bug-infested field and to evaluate genetic parameters and correlations among those traits. The parents and progeny from 229 F₂ plants developed by crossing a resistant cultivar (IAC-100) with a susceptible cultivar (CD-215) were evaluated in three replications in a single environment. Seven agronomic traits and eight indicators of insect resistance were measured. Genotypes showed significant differences for all traits except lodging. The grain-filling period exhibited a positive genotypic correlation of 0.66 with hundred-seed weight, whereas a negative genotypic correlation of ?0.53 was found between pod damage index (%) and weight of healthy seeds. In general, a shorter pod-filling period, lower weight of hundred-seeds, lower indices of pod damage, and higher seed-yield per plant were phenotypic traits of genotypes resistant to these insects.     

Persistence and downward movement of some selected herbicides in the humid and subhumid tropics

The persistence and downward movement of atrazine, metolachlor, fluometuron and pendimethalin under field conditions were studied at Onne in southern Nigeria, representing a humid tropical climate and at Ibadan, representing a humid-subhumid transition zone. Atrazine, fluometuron, and metolachlor were each applied pre-emergence at 3·0 and 6·0 kg/ha while pendimethalin was applied at 2·5 and 5·0 kg/ha. The presence of these herbicides was assessed by bioassay techniques. Atrazine, metolachlor and pendimethalin (at 3·0 kg/ha) were not present at phytotoxic levels in the top soil (0–15 cm depth) in soil samples taken from treated plots at 12 weeks after treatment (12 WAT) in both Ibadan and Onne. Fluometuron at 3·0 kg/ha persisted in the top soil at Ibadan but not at Onne at 12 WAT. Although rainfall increased the leaching of atrazine, metolachlor and fluometuron it did not affect pendimethalin, which remained in the top 5 cm of soil at both locations. Results of this study show that crops sensitive to atrazine, metolachlor and pendimethalin can be safely grown in the humid tropics if they are planted at least 12 weeks after any of these herbicides are used on a tolerant crop species.     

Seed characterization and direct sowing of native grass species as a management tool

There is insufficient information about germination, seed biology and seedling establishment of native grass species of the cerrado (Brazilian savannah) to recommend their use in restoration of disturbed areas. We evaluated the production, percentage of fertile seeds, germination, seedling growth and establishment in the field of eighteen native grass species and one exotic invasive species (Melinis minutiflora) and also the effects of different storage periods on germination. The percentage of fertile seeds varied from 6·0 to 94·2% among native species. Ten species produced a minimum of 800 fertile seeds per gram. Germination rate was in the range of 11·0 to 98·8%. Storage for 1 year reduced the germination rate in one species, did not affect germination of three species and increased germination (by 2–10 times) in 14 species. After 2 years of storage, six species showed reductions in germination. Three different patterns of resource allocation were observed and might provide mechanisms for increasing seedling establishment under different environmental conditions. In the field, only two species flowered in the first year after sowing and an additional eight in the second year of observation. Melinis minutiflora is an aggressive species with more than three times the fertile seed production of native species (2820 seeds per gram), high germination rate (55%) and a high number of germinable seeds (1551 per gram). Despite the wide variation in seed characteristics and the delay in flowering, it is concluded that most native grass species can be used in projects aiming at the restoration and management of degraded areas.     

Evaluation of selected food characteristics of three advanced lines of Nigerian soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

The seeds of three promising advanced lines of soybeans (TGx 923-2^EN, TGx 1019-2^EN and TGx 1497-1^D) which were part of a larger collection evaluated in agronomic field trials in Nigeria were selected for characterization of physicochemical properties, chemical composition, water absorption, cooking time and cooked texture as a function of soaking and cooking. Seed density, leached solids, swelling capacity and seed coat percentage were within a range of 1.15 to 1.26 g per ml, 1.00 to 1.26 g per 100 g, 80.25 to 84.35 g per 100 g and 6.6 to 10.1% w/w of dry beans, respectively. The total polyphenol content of the cream colored beans was similar (0.75 to 0.76 mg/g) but higher than the amount (0.60 mg/g) found in the white beans. Cooking times varied between 71 and 96 min without soaking and were reduced by about 32.0% following a presoaking treatment in water for 12 hours at room temperature (28±1°C). Small seeds absorbed higher amounts of water during soaking and required less cooking time than larger seeds. Unsoaked beans required 40 min of cooking to achieve the same degree of cooked texture as the soaked beans cooked for 20 min, suggesting that cooking times and cooked texture for all lines were improved through soaking.     

The value of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) in ryegrass — timothy mixtures managed to simulate intensive grazing

The performance of timothy in mixtures with perennial ryegrass was assessed under a simulated intensive grazing management over two harvest years in 1974–75. Three seed rates of S23 perennial ryegrass were factorially combined with three rates of Scots timothy and compared with pure stands of each grass. All were sown with Huia white clover. When cut six times at monthly intervals and with an annual N input of 350 kg ha^?1, there were no significant differences in total DM production in either year. The 2-year mean DM yield for the nine mixtures and six pure swards was 9·77 t ha^?1 (range 9·34–10·16). Compared with the pure ryegrass swards, in both years the ryegrass-timothy mixtures produced earlier spring growth but were significantly lower yielding at the second cut. Over the first five cuts the proptortion of timothy in the three mixtures with 22·4 kg ha^?1 ryegrass seed averaged 26% in the first year and 37% in the second. Corresponding calculated mean DM yields of timothy were 2·75 and 3·00 t ha^?1. It is concluded that an early timothy variety is capable of competing with a late-heading perennial ryegrass in frequently cut swards managed to simulate intensive grazing. The strong development of timothy in the dry summer of 1975 suggests that in mixtures of late perennial ryegrass varieties, an early variety of timothy should be beneficial for its spring growth in grazed swards.     

Genetic analysis of seed‐related traits in smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis) under well‐watered and water‐stressed conditions

In forage grasses, knowledge about the genetic basis of seed production and its association with related traits under water stress is very limited. Half‐sib families derived from the polycross of twenty five smooth bromegrass genotypes were evaluated in the field in well‐watered and water‐stressed environments during 2012 and 2013. Results showed that drought stress had a negative effect on seed yield and reduced phenotypic variation for seed yield and agro‐morphological traits. High genotypic variation was observed among families for seed yield and its components. Narrow‐sense heritabilities (h²) ranged from 0·22 (flag leaf weight) to 0·81 (days to anthesis). These moderate‐to‐high heritability estimates for seed yield and its components indicate that phenotypic selection can be successful to achieve genetic progress for these traits. Seed yield had a positive correlation with 1000‐seed weight, number of ears per plant, number of seeds per panicle, seed weight per panicle and panicle length.     

Effect of planting date on severity of frogeye leaf spot and grain yield of soybeans

The influence of soybean (Glycine max) planting date on seasonal epidemics of frogeye leaf spot caused by Cercospora sojina and on grain yield, was evaluated during the 1991 and 1992 cropping seasons. Two susceptible (Samsoy 1 and TGx 849-313D) and one resistant (TGx 996-26E) soybean cultivars were used in field trials at Zonkwa, in the southern Kaduna state of Nigeria. Four field plantings were made at 14-day intervals from late May to mid0July. For each planting date, half the plots received foliar applications of benomyl at R₁ and R₃ growth stages, and the other half was untreated. Frogeye disease severity ratings were taken for all plots at R₄ to R₅ growth stages, and grain yield for each plot was measured at harvest. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in disease severity between the first and third plantings on the two susceptible cultivars in 1991, and on TGx 849-313D only in 1992. Corresponding yield reductions for the two susceptible cultivars averaged 13 and 31% for the treated and untreated plots, respectively, with each 2-week delay beyond the first planting date in 1991, and 5 and 6%, respectively, in 1992. There was no significant difference in disease among all treatments on the resistant cultivar, TGx 996-26E. Under Nigerian conditions, an increase in frogeye leaf spot severity can be expected with delayed planting of soybean after 1 June, and this can result in a corresponding loss of crop yield.     

Species interactions in a grassland mixture under low nitrogen fertilization and two cutting frequencies: 1. dry‐matter yield and dynamics of species composition

Four‐species mixtures and pure stands of perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, white clover and red clover were grown in three‐cut and five‐cut systems at Ås, southern Norway, at a low fertilization rate (100 kg N ha^?1 year^?1). Over a three‐year experiment, we found strong positive effects of species diversity on annual dry‐matter yield and yield stability under both cutting frequencies. The overyielding in mixtures relative to pure stands was highest in the five‐cut system and in the second year. Among the possible pairwise species interaction effects contributing to the diversity effect, the grass–grass interaction was the strongest, being significant in both cutting systems and in all years. The grass–legume interactions were sometimes significant, but no significant legume–legume interaction could be detected. Competitive relationships between species varied from year to year and also between cutting systems. Estimations based on species identity effects and pair‐specific interactions suggested that the optimal proportions of red clover, white clover, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue in seed mixtures would have been around 0·1, 0·2, 0·4 and 0·3 in the three‐cut system, and 0·1, 0·3, 0·3 and 0·3 in the five‐cut system.     

Seed-set and pollen–stigma compatibility in Leymus chinensis

Chinese leymus [Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel.] is an important forage distributed in East Asia. The seed‐set rates and the pollen–stigma compatibility in six populations were investigated in 2001. Proportionately seed‐set ranged from 0·065 to 0·567 under open pollination and 0·0056 to 0·0426 under self‐pollination. The former is significantly higher than the latter in each population. Microscopic observations showed that proportionately only 0·0551 to 0·1167 of self‐pollinated pollen grains were compatible but most cross‐pollinated pollen grains were compatible. The tubes of most incompatible pollen grains aborted upon entering into the stigmas. Among the six populations, there was a significant correlation between seed‐set under open pollination and the compatible pollen rates under cross‐pollination. These results suggest that Chinese leymus is a self‐incompatible species, and the compatibility of pollen and stigma might be one of the factors influencing seed‐set in natural conditions. This information will be useful for future breeding efforts.     

Seed yield variation in plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii (Vasey) Piper) populations and its relation with phenotypic characteristics and environmental factors

Plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii (Vasey) Piper) is a dominant grass in the endangered Fescue Prairie of North America. Infrequent and unpredictable seed production presents a challenge for the use of this species in restoration and rangeland seeding. The objective of this study was to compare seed yield of different plains rough fescue populations and to determine the dependence of seed yield on phenotypic characteristics. Effect of weather conditions during the floral induction and initiation period of different years of the study was also compared. In 2007, a completely randomized field plot experiment was established from eleven populations of plains rough fescue at Swift Current, SK, Canada. In 2007, 2010 and 2011, individual plant seed yield, reproductive tillers, above‐ground biomass, plant height and crown diameter were measured, and plant vigour was scored. All measured variables differed significantly (P ≤ 0·05) among populations. Four populations were identified as having higher seed yield potential. Plants in these four populations also had characteristics of good plant vigour, taller stems, more reproductive tillers and greater biomass. Seed yield increased linearly with increasing plant height, crown diameter, above‐ground biomass and number of reproductive tillers (r² ranged 0·17–0·67, P < 0·001), but number of reproductive tillers (r² = 0·53–0·67, P < 0·001) was a better predictor for selection of lines with higher seed yield. Although seed yield varied among years, populations with higher seed yield tended to produce greater amounts of seed over the period of the study.     

Economic losses by rats on experimental rice farms in the Philippines

Fifty-one scientists at the International Rice Research Institute took part in a survey to determine the extent of rat damage on experimental rice fields in 1980 and the resultant data loss. Their responses suggested that rat damage occurred in 86·0% of 171 field experiments, causing complete loss of data in 6·4% and partial loss in 59·1%. Survey results indicated that rat damage was unaffected by season or among plots protected by a non-electrified fence, electrified fence, or no fence. The incidence of complete loss of research data was highest in experimental plots protected by an electrified fence. Data losses were estimated as equivalent to monetary losses of about US$ 370 000 for 1 year.