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Biochemical Evidence for the Feeding Sites of the Leafhopper Nephotettix Virescens within Susceptible and Resistant Rice Plants

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Abstract

Semi-quantitative biochemical analyses by paper chromatography-densitometry and pH determinations of honeydew excreted by Nephotettix virescens (Distant) feeding on rice plants revealed higher free amino compound and sugar concentrations in honeydew excreted on the susceptible variety TN1 than on resistant ASD7 or P203. Furthermore, sap exudates from these three varieties, presumed to be mainly from xylem, as well as honeydew excreted on the resistant varieties were acidic, whereas honeydew from TN1 was predominantly basic. Since phloem sap in herbaceous plants usually gives an alkaline reaction whereas xylem sap is acidic, and because the former contains much higher concentrations of sugars and free amino acids than the latter, the biochemical evidence strongly suggests that Nephotettix virescens is primarily a xylem feeder on the resistant plants tested, but feeds predominantly on phloem sap in susceptible TN1.

Résumé

Des analyses semi-quantitatives par chromatographic sur papier et densitométrie et des déterminations du pH ont été effectuées sur le miellat excrété par Nephotettix virescens (Distant) se nourrissant sur des plantes de riz. Les résultats ont indiqué une teneur beaucoup plus élevée en acides aminés libres et en sucre dans le miellat excrété sur la variété sensible de riz TN1 que sur les variétés résistantes ASD7 ou P203. De plus, des exsudats de sève brute provenant des vaisseaux du bois (xylème) de ces trois variétés, de même que le miellat excrété sur les variétés résistantes étaient de réaction acide, tandis que le miellat excrété sur la variété sensible était généralement alcalin. Puisque la sève élaborée du phloème chez les plantes herbacées est généralement de réaction alcaline, tandis que celle provenant des vaisseaux du bois est acide, et que la sève élaborée contient généralement une teneur beaucoup plus elevee en acides aminés et en sucres, les résultats d’analyse biochimique suggèrent fortement que Nephotettix virescens se nourrit principalement de la sève brute sur les deux variétés résistantes, mais surtout de sève élaborée chez la variété sensible TN1.

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Auclair, J.L., Baldos, E. & Heinrichs, E.A. Biochemical Evidence for the Feeding Sites of the Leafhopper Nephotettix Virescens within Susceptible and Resistant Rice Plants. Int J Trop Insect Sci 3, 29–34 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400001855

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400001855

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