Plant yield response to artificial infestation of the false chinch bug,Nysius raphanus, confined on spring canola

Abstract

A 2-year study was conducted to evaluate the relationship of plant yield responses to artificial infestations of the false chinch bug (FCB)Nysius raphanus (Howard) on spring canola in Colorado, USA. Yield losses were greater when infestation occurred at the early flowering stage (EFS) than at the early pod stage (EPS), in both 2001 and 2002. In the first trial in 2001, with infestations of 10, 20 and 40 FCB/head, the respective average yield losses over all cultivars were 43%, 68% and 69%, respectively, compared with the non-infested control at the EFS, but 11%, 26% and 23% at the EPS. In the second trial in 2001, with infestations of 10, 20 and 40 FCB/head, the respective average yield losses over all cultivars were 26%, 58% and 55% at the early EFS, but 35%, 20% and 35% at the EPS. Yield reductions from FCB infestation were lower in 2002 than in 2001. In the first trial in 2002, with infestations of 10, 20 and 40 FCB/head, the respective average yield losses of all cultivars combined were 31%, 51% and 68% at the EFS, and 13%, 32% and 18% at the EPS. However, in the second trial in 2002, with the same numbers of FCB per head, no yield reductions were observed at either EFS or EPS. The number of FCB causing 10% yield loss in the four trials ranged from 6.1 to 39.4 FCB/head (avg. 14.8) following infestation at the EFS and 15.4–109.8 (avg. 41.8) following infestation at the EPS. Cultivar responses to FCB may also influence FCB yield reductions. However, in these studies all eight tested cultivars sustained yield loss in at least one trial at some FCB infestation level. Variation between trials was substantial but a significant level of resistance to FCB injury did not occur among the tested cultivars.