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Evidence that maize wallaby ear disease is caused by an insect toxin
Author(s) -
OFORI F. A.,
FRANCKI R. I. B.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1983.tb02755.x
Subject(s) - biology , leafhopper , insect , agronomy , hemiptera , botany
SUMMARY Colonies of the leafhopper Cicadulina bimaculata were established from single male and female insects raised from surface sterilised eggs and shown to be free of leafhopper A virus (LAV). Insects from these colonies were as capable of inducing maize wallaby ear disease (MWED) in maize seedlings as those with LAV indicating that the virus is not involved in the etiology of MWED. Maize seedlings colonised by C. bimaculata in glasshouse trials developed initial MWED symptoms within 6–8 days of infestation. The symptoms intensified thereafter and many plants died after more than 16 days' exposure, even after the insects were killed with insecticide. However, when freed from the insects before symptoms became very severe, plants recovered and assumed normal growth. These observations support the view that MWED is caused by an insect toxin.