This tip was provided by:
Ronnie Schnell, Cropping Systems – Statewide, College Station, ronschnell@tamu.edu
Statewide
Sugarcane Aphid Tolerant Grain Sorghum Hybrids
Seven commercially available grain sorghum hybrids were evaluated for tolerance to sugarcane aphids (SCA) at five locations in Texas during 2016. All were compared to a susceptible public check (Tx399 x Tx430). Late plantings (mid May) were used to increase the chance of pre-bloom SCA infestations. Given the late planting, yield from SCA trials were low and are not provided in this report. Results from College Station and Greenville have been reported.
SCA was present at both sites within 6 weeks of planting, although numbers remained below threshold (50 per leaf) through flowering. By Late July, the susceptible check had a mean number of SCA per leaf in excess of 200 and remained above 100 through harvest. In contrast, five commercial hybrids demonstrated consistent lower levels of SCA per leaf. DKS 37-07, AG 1203, BH4100, SP7715 and W7051 all remain below 50 SCA (mean per leaf) throughout the duration of the trial at College Station and Greenville. Performance of these hybrids at other locations is not available yet. Variation of timing, intensity and duration of SCA infestations may affect performance of these hybrids at other locations. However, these results suggest that these hybrids have some level of tolerance to SCA, which may reduce the number of insecticide applications or possibly the need for insecticide applications.
Is the maturity and yield potential of these hybrids appropriate for your farm? If so, including them among hybrids you plant may be appropriate. Maturity and yield information obtained from Texas A&M AgriLife trials in the Gulf Coast and Central Texas regions during 2016 are provided below. Yield differences for early maturing hybrids should be weighed against potential savings on insecticide sprays.
Sorghum Partners – SP7715
- Medium-Full
- Mean grain yield at Thrall, TX was 5,287 lbs/acre, +4% of trial mean yield.
Warner Seed – W7051
- Medium-Full
- No yield information available in the region for 2016.
BH Genetics – BH4100
- Medium
- Average yield from 4 trials in the Blacklands region of Central Texas was 4,708 lbs/acre, -3% of the regional trials mean yield.
Advanta – Alta Seeds AG1203
- Medium-Early
- Average yield from 15 trials in the Upper Gulf Coast and Central Texas region was 4,642 lbs/acre. Overall, was -5% of the trail mean yields.
Dekalb – DKS 37-07
- Medium-Early
- No yield information available in the region for 2016.
