A fungal epiphyte (Ephelis sp.) of grasses on Ishigaki island and its effect on the feeding of two insect pests
Country
Japan
Description
[Synopsis]
Ephelis sp., a fungus belonging to the family Clavicipitaceae, was found on fifteen species of grasses on Ishigaki island, Okinawa; Brachiaria mutica (Forsk.) Stpf, Chloris barbata Swarzt, C. divaricata R. Br., Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz.) Trin, Cynodon Dactylon (L.) Pers., C. pletostachyrus (K. Schm.) Pilger, Digitaria decumbens var. koenigii (Retz.) Durand et Schinz, Leptochloa panica (Retz.) Ohwi, Panicum Crus-galli. Beauv. var. praticola Ohwi, P. repens L., Paspalum scrobiculatum G. Forst, P. urvillei Steud. and Erichloa procera C. H. Hubb.. Sites with Ephelis infection were most commonly wet areas that had remained undisturbed for many years. The relationship of the Ephelis fungus to grasses was essentially that of an epiphyte. Insect feeding deterrence associated with the presence of the Ephelis sp., was detected in choice tests involving infected and uninfected leaves. Larvae of Japanese army worm, Pseudaletia separata, and the adult of a grasshopper. Aiolopus thalassinus tamulus, preferred uninfected leaf of Digitaria decumbens to infected leaf. The life of adult A. thalassinus tamulus feed on Ephelis-infected Digitaria decumbens leaves was shorter than those feed on Ephelis-free leaves.
- Affiliation
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Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences Okinawa Subtropical Station
- Classification
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Technical A
- Term of research
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FY1998 (FY1997-1999)
- Responsible researcher
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TAKAHASHI Keiichi ( Okinawa Subtropical Station )
KOHNO Katsuyuki ( Okinawa Subtropical Station )
TSUKIBOSHI Takao ( National Grassland Research Institute )
SHIMANUKI Tadayuki ( National Grassland Research Institute )
KOBAYASHI Makoto ( National Grassland Research Institute )
- ほか
- Japanese PDF
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