Abstract
The sorghum shootfly was first recorded as a pest in the central rainlands, causing losses of up to 25% in local varieties and 25–62.5% in introduced varieties. The pest has also been recorded in the Northern, Khartoum and Equatorial provinces.
In the Sudan, more than one species of Atherigona attack cereals, Atherigona soccata being the most dominant species. Sorghum plants attacked by the shootfly flower and ripen at different times.
A study of the biology of the shootfly showed that the incubation period of the egg was 2–3 days, the pupation period was 6–8 days and the duration from egg to adult was 17 days. The closer the eggs were laid to the leaf blade, the better the chances of the shootfly causing ‘dead-heart’ symptoms. The mortality of the first-instar larva was highest in the first 24 hr. The incidence of the shootfly coincided with rainfall and lower temperatures.
In a selection programme, Combine Kafir 60 had the lowest infestation level, compared to Sudan Grass, Abu Sabein and Feterita Gadarif varieties.
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Zein el Abdin, A.M. Review of Sorghum Shootfly Research in the Sudan. Int J Trop Insect Sci 2, 55–58 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400002150
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400002150