Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T13:51:04.387Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

THE EFFECT OF THE WHEAT STEM SAWFLY, CEPHUS CINCTUS (HYMENOPTERA: CEPHIDAE), ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF WHEAT

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

N. D. Holmes
N. D. Holmes
Affiliation:
Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4B1
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Larvae of the wheat stem sawfly, Cephas cinctus Nort, reduced the weight of grain per head by an average of 17.3% in the two spring wheats Red Bobs and Thatcher with annual reductions varying from 10.8% to 22.3%. They also lowered the protein content in Thatcher by an average of 0.6% and a maximum of 1.2%. However, because a significant loss in protein content occurred in only 1 of 6 years in Red Bobs, the effects of the larvae on protein content cannot be generalized for all varieties.

The losses in weight per head resulted from a mean reduction of 11.9% in the weight of the kernels combined with a mean reduction of 1.9 in the number of kernels per head. The larvae caused the losses by feeding in the stems and by cutting them when the moisture contents of the kernels were relatively high. Annual variations in losses were attributed to the dates of the infestation, to the amount of precipitation in July and August, and to differences in dates of cutting by the larvae.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 109 , Issue 12 , December 1977 , pp. 1591 - 1598
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1977

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Dodd, M. E. 1957. The effect of swathing at different stages of maturity on the bushel weight and yield of wheat. Can. J. Pl. Sci. 37:149–156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, L. T., Dunstone, R. L., Rawson, H. M., and Williams, R. F.. 1970. The phloem of the wheat stem in relation to the requirements for assimilate by the ear. Austral. J. biol. Sci. 23: 743–752.Google Scholar
Evans, L.T. and Rawson, H. M.. 1970. Photosynthesis and respiration by the flag leaf and components of the ear during grain development in wheat. Austral. J. biol. Sci. 23: 245–254.Google Scholar
Farstad, C. W. and Jacobson, L. A.. 1945. Manual for sawfly workers in Alberta. Dom. Dep. Agric., Sci. Serv. Div. Ent. Mimeo. Contrib. 16. 30 pp.Google Scholar
Farstad, C. W., King, K. M., Glen, R., and Jacobson, L. A.. 1945. Control of the wheat stem sawfly in the prairie provinces. Wartime Production Series, Agric. Supplies Board, Can. Dep. Agric. Spec. Pamph. 59 (rev.). 7 pp.Google Scholar
Holmes, N. D. 1954. Food relations of the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Nort. (Hymenoptera: Cephidae). Can. Ent. 86: 159–167.Google Scholar
Holmes, N. D. 1975. Effects of moisture, gravity, and light on the behavior of larvae of the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus (Hymenoptera: Cephidae). Can. Ent. 107: 391–401.Google Scholar
Holmes, N. D. and Peterson, L. K.. 1960. The influence of the host on oviposition by the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Nort. Can. J. Pl. Sci. 40: 29–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holmes, N. D. and Peterson, L. K.. 1963. Heptachlor as a systemic insecticide against the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Nort. Can. Ent. 95: 792–796.Google Scholar
Holmes, N. D. and Peterson, L. K.. 1965. Swathing wheat and survival of wheat stem sawfly. Can. J. Pl. Sci. 45: 579–581.Google Scholar
McNeal, F. H., Berg, M. A., and Luginbill, P. Jr., 1955. Wheat stem sawfly damage in four spring wheat varieties as influenced by date of seeding. Agron. J. 47: 522–525.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Molberg, E. S. 1963. Yield and quality of Selkirk wheat swathed at different stages of maturity. Can. J. Pl. Sci. 43: 338–343.Google Scholar
Munro, J. A., Nostdahl, W., and Post, R. L.. 1949.Wheat stem sawfly. N. Dak. Bi-mon. Bull. 11: 85–91.Google Scholar
Peterson, L. K., McKenzie, H., and Holmes, N. D.. 1968. Establishment of a nursery for evaluation of resistance of strains of wheat to the wheat stem sawfly. J. econ. Ent. 61: 836–838.Google Scholar
Platt, A. and Farstad, C. W.. 1949. Breeding spring wheats for resistance to wheat stem sawfly attack. Proc. 7th Pacif. Sci. Congr. 4: 215–220.Google Scholar
Rawson, H. M. 1970. Spikelet number, its control and relation to yield per ear in wheat. Austral. J. biol. Sci. 23: 1–15.Google Scholar
Rawson, H. M. and Evans, L. T.. 1971. The contribution of stem reserves to grain development in a range of wheat cultivars of different height. Austral. J. agric. Res. 22: 851–863.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seamans, H. L., Manson, G. F., and Farstad, C. W.. 1944. The effect of wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus Nort.) on the heads and grain of infested stems. 75th A. Rep. ent. Soc. Ont., pp. 10–15.Google Scholar
Steel, R. G. D. and Torrie, J. H.. 1960. Principles and procedures of statistics. McGraw-Hill, Toronto. 481 pp.Google Scholar