Abstract
The psyllid insect (Heteropsylla cubana) is known to reduce biomass production in Leucaena species, but little information is available on the level of reduction, or whether a commonly used plant damage rating scale can be related to production losses. Biomass production losses due to predation by the psyllid were determined for 12accessions of Leucaena in a randomised split-plot field experiment conducted at Brisbane, Australia. Regrowthfrom well-established Leucaena trees, cut back to bare stems 50 cm high, was measured over a 9–week period from plants subjected to psyllid damage and from plants with psyllids controlled by spraying with chlorpyrifos (1 mg ai/l water). Psyllid damage was scored using a ratings scale developed by the University of Hawaii. Lossof potential DM production due to psyllids ranged from 10% for L. trichandra OFI53/88 to 76% for L. collinsii ssp. zacapana OFI56/88. Production losses were significantly correlated with psyllid damage ratings for 10 of the 12 accessions, and also for a combined data set comprising these 10 accessions. From correlations for the combined data set, a 50% loss of potential DM production occurred at a psyllid damage rating of approximately3.2. Results indicated that a “0” rating should be added to the scale to indicate the absence of psyllids.
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Mullen, B., Shelton, H. Psyllid resistance in Leucaena. Part 2. Quantification of production lossesfrom psyllid damage. Agroforestry Systems 58, 163–171 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026081307893
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026081307893