Experimental Agriculture (2014) 50, 498-504

M.V. Leite, A.M. Auad, T.T. Resende, M.P. Frias, M.G. Fonseca and R.J.C. Castro (2014)
Do salicylic acid, nitric oxide and feeding by Mahanarva spectabilis nymphs induce a resistance response in elephant grass?
Experimental Agriculture 50 (4), 498-504
Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether salicylic acid, nitric oxide (NO) and/or feeding by nymphs of the spittlebug Mahanarva spectabilis affect the concentration of total phenolic compounds and the dry matter content of different genotypes of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum). Four genotypes of elephant grass with varying levels of resistance to insect attack were treated with 4 mL of salicylic acid (1%) or 2 mL of NO per plant in the presence and the absence of nymphs. We determined the concentration of total phenolic compounds and the percentage dry matter of shoots and roots in the plants. We found that salicylic acid, NO and attack by M. spectabilis did not change significantly the total phenolic compounds concentration in any of the genotypes of elephant grass tested. However, we observed variations in the concentration of phenolic compounds produced between the resistant and susceptible genotypes, both in the shoot, when subjected to salicylic acid or nymphs, and in the roots in the presence of nymphs. Furthermore, the inducers resulted in variation in the dry matter content of the shoots and roots for most of the genotypes tested. Therefore, we conclude that chemical inducers and feeding by M. spectabilis nymphs cannot be used to elicit a resistance response in elephant grass by stimulating the production of phenolic compounds.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Alexander M. Auad

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Mahanarva spectabilis	Cenchrus (crop)