1. Sorghum – Sugarcane Aphid Research Exchange Meeting
Key Question #2: How can harvest aids be used in combination with the industry standards, Transform and Sivanto, when applied at a 14 d PHI?
Robert Bowling
Texas A&M University
Sorghum – Sugarcane Aphid
Research Exchange Meeting
Dallas, TX
January 3 – 4, 2017

2. Collaborators Name Affiliation Trial Location Plant Date Spray
Nick Seiter
University of Arkansas
Monticello, AR
4/25/16
7/29/16
Jeff Gore
Mississippi State University
Stoneville, MS
5/12/16
9/18/16
Francis Reay-Jones
Clemson University
Florence, SC
5/25/2016
Robert Bowling
Texas A&M University
Corpus Christi, TX
3/15/16
7/21/16

3. Introduction
Sugarcane aphid on sorghum leaves during application of harvest aids frequently move to sorghum head
SCA activity on sorghum heads may result in honeydew accumulations and present harvest issues/grain loss/harvest delays
Key question: How can harvest aids be used in combination with the industry standards, Transform and Sivanto, when applied at a 14 d PHI?)

4. Materials & Methods University research farms or grower fields
Randomized complete block design or as replicated strips
Data Collected
Number SCA on upper and lower leaves
Number of aphids/head
Timing: 3, 7, 10, and 14 days after application
Rate grain heads for presence and severity of honeydew
Light: honeydew is present and easily visible in parts of the head, but no sooty mold and few cast skins
Moderate: honeydew is present throughout the head, with cast skins and sooty mold in patches
Heavy: all or most of the head is covered with honeydew, sooty mold, and cast skins
Make observations on amount of grain lost (kernels on the ground) and collect data if appropriate.

5. Materials & Methods

6. Nick Seiter University of Arkansas

7. Nick Seiter University of Arkansas

8. Nick Seiter University of Arkansas

9. Nick Seiter University of Arkansas

10. Nick Seiter University of Arkansas

11. Jeff Gore Mississippi State University

12. Jeff Gore Mississippi State University

13. Jeff Gore Mississippi State University

14. Jeff Gore Mississippi State University

15. Key Learnings SCA is a frustrating research subject!
Rapid movement by SCA following NaClO3 application/rapid plant desiccation?
SCA did move to head when RU used as defoliant or no harvest aid applied
Aphids were successfully controlled and movement to the head was minimized when insecticide applied (Sivanto or Transform)

16. Next Steps
What is the threshold for sugarcane aphids at hard dough/maturity?

17. Discussion
Written Management suggestions (possibly a short publication) needed to help sorghum producers manage late-season SCA on sorghum.
Is there value in a Harvest Aid Management document?
What information should be included (i.e. insecticide rates, SCA populations worthy of a late-season/harvest aid tank mix, PHI’s are obvious, other info)?
Can this document be a single offering for all sorghum production regions or should it be region specific?

18. Discussion Is there value in a Harvest Aid Management document?
What information should be included (i.e. insecticide rates, SCA populations worthy of a late-season/harvest aid tank mix, PHI’s are obvious, other info)?
Can this document be a single offering for all sorghum production regions or should it be region specific?

19. Extra Slides Monticello, AR trial design
Randomized complete block, 4 replicate blocks arranged in columns, plots 4 rows x 40 feet with 2 rows unsprayed border
Variety AgVenture AV7R21 planted 25 April (90,000 seeds per acre, 38-inch row spacing)
Treatments applied 15 August using self-propelled Mudmaster multi-boom sprayer
10 plants per plot with colonies of aphids on the flag leaves were marked with flagging tape prior to treatment
Marked plants in plots were sampled 19 Aug., 22 Aug., 25 Aug, 29 Aug.
Harvested 29 August

20. Robert Bowling Texas A&M University
Upper Leaf - F4,12 = P =
Lower Leaf – F4,12 = P =

21. Robert Bowling Texas A&M University
Upper Leaf - F4,12 = P =
Lower Leaf – F4,12 = P =

22. Robert Bowling Texas A&M University
Upper Leaf - F4,12 = P =
Lower Leaf – F4,12 = P =

23. Extra Slides Corpus Christi, TX trial design
Randomized complete block, 4 replicate blocks arranged in columns, plots 4 rows x 40 feet with center 2 rows sprayed
Variety Pioneer 84P80 planted 10 March (55,000 seeds per acre, 30-inch row spacing)
Treatments applied 24 August using hand-held CO2 sprayer
TT nozzle tips
10 plants per plot with colonies of aphids on plants were marked with flagging tape prior to treatment
Marked plants in plots were sampled 23 June, 27 June, and 1 July.
Plot area was not harvested because aphids never moved to head.