Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #167238

Title: DISCRIMINATION BY THE POTATO LEAFHOPPER OF HOST VOLATILES FROM RESISTANT AND SUSCEPTIBLE ALFALFA

Author
item WINTER, RUDOLPH - UNIV OF MO-ST LOUIS
item RANGER, CHRISTOPHER - RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
item Backus, Elaine
item ROTTINGHAUS, GEORGE - UNIV OF MO-COLUMBIA

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/25/2004
Publication Date: 11/17/2004
Citation: Winter, R., Ranger, C.M., Backus, E.A., Rottinghaus, G.E. 2004. Discrimination by the potato leafhopper of host volatiles from resistant and susceptible alfalfa. [abstract]. The 2004 ESA Annual Meeting and Exhibition. Available:http://esa.confex.com/esa/2004/techprogram/paper 17632.htm

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Varieties of glandular-haired alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., with resistance to the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris) have been commercially released. Leafhopper resistance was examined by collecting volatiles from resistant, glandular-haired M. sativa cv. 'G98A' and susceptible, nonglandular M. sativa cv. 'Ranger'. GC-MS determined that steam distillates from G98A and Ranger were composed mainly of alcohols and esters. (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate was the only major component in head-space samples from G98A and Ranger. No volatiles were unique to either G98A or Ranger. Two-choice bioassays of leaf steam distillates and head-space samples found significantly more leafhoppers oriented towards volatiles from Ranger than G98A. Leafhopper resistance may be due to decreased attraction.