Agric. sci. dev., Vol(3), No (3), March, 2014. pp.

85-87

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ISSN:

Agriculture Science Developments

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Identifying the Dominant Leafhoppers in Four Field: Early Sowing

Wheat, Late Sowing Wheat, Barley and Maize; and Their Frequency in
Shahrekord City
Farhad Rezaei *
Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Khorasgan (Isfahan) Branch,Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

Bijan Hatami
Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Khorasgan (Isfahan) Branch,Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

Sayed Habibollah Norbakhsh

Department of Plant Protection Research, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari, Shahrekord, Iran.

Alireza Jalalizand
Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Khorasgan (Isfahan) Branch,Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
*Corresponding author: farhad_1365r@yahoo.com

Keywords

Abstract

Leafhoppers
Dominant
Species
Abundance
Wheat
Barley
Maize

Specific climate conditions around the Shahrekord province provide suitable conditions for cereal.
Leafhoppers are the most important sucking pests in this crops. These insects sometimes can transmit
disease. In this study, for specify fauna cereal leafhoppers, four fields early-sowing wheat, late-sowing
wheat, barley and maize were selected and it was evaluated in a randomized complete block design.
Sampling of four fields in each region was done by sweeping net. Samples collected considered carefully in
the laboratory and after the separation for identification and confirmation were sent to the insect taxonomy
research department of iranian research institute of plant protection in Tehran. Population of leafhopper was
recorded in special table carefully and analyzed by SAS statistical software. The results showed that species
of leafhoppers Macrosteles laevis, Psammotettix alienus, Empoasca decipiens and Laodelphax striatellus
were as dominant leafhoppers of cereal field.

1.

Introduction

Increasing world population (daily 250 thousand person) has led to the need for more food [7]. [5] states that, according to FAO, cereals is
important part of the food in world. Cereals are the cheapest Proteinaceous and Starchy food. According to studies conducted by the Institute of
Nutritional Sciences of Iran, about 75 percent of the daily protein intake comes from cereals, in addition the role of cereals in supplying the meat
and dairy products is undeniable and also in these days, cereal not only is an essential nutrient and important, but also has equal or even superior
politically importance Compared with oil, therefore for the independence of people of the world, two options remain, first severe control of
population and second, Produce more [2].
Preserve cereal products against pests, diseases and weeds, one of the most important ways to increase production and achieve
self-sufficiency. Damage caused by pests, diseases and weeds in our country, is estimated about 30 to 35 percent, that 12-10 percent of it is
devoted to harmful insects, this means that the management of these factors can be increased to 12-10 percent of the actual yield of cereal [5]. In
Iran, more than seventy species of insects have been introduced as pests of cereals and one group of pests that causes damage to the cereals crop,
are Leafhoppers. Leafhoppers are important pests of the world, especially in Asia and these pests has spread in Europe, that they have
completely economical importance [3], [11] and [6]. Leafhoppers in two ways: direct and indirect (viral and phytoplasma diseases) make major
damage to wheat, barley and maize fields [4] and [17]. Studies of researchers of department of plant protection research of agricultural and
natural resources research center of Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari province in recent years has shown that there are high population leafhoppers in
Shahrekord plain cereal fields and feeding activity of these pests certainly plays a role in reducing cereals crop [18]. Goals of this research are
determine abundance of species of leafhoppers in cereal fields and to identify the dominant species of leafhoppers in these fields. Applied goals
that are followed in this study, is that by doing this study take the great step in order to help farmers and producers for pest control and reduction
of viral diseases and thereby reduce damage to crops, and research centers in the country in solving this pests problem and in a word, to support
national production.

2.

Methodology

Investigations have been carried out in the biennium 2011-2012, in four fields early-sowing wheat, late-sowing wheat, barley and maize.
Location of experiment was in agriculture and natural resources center of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari station located 5 km southeast of
Shahrekord whit with latitude 32 degrees north, 50 degrees east longitude, altitude 2073 m, average annual rainfall of 322 mm and mean annual
temperature is 11.8 C. This experiment was evaluated in a randomized complete block design. Sampling systematically and weekly between
the hours of 10 to 12 in the morning by standard sweeping net (length of 150 cm and 30 cm diameter) was done. In each sampling time, 10
samples were collected from the fields, that each sample was included 10 times the sweeping net handling. The total samples were transported to
the laboratory for early detection by using identification keys [16] and [9]; species separated, counted and poured in labeled vials (including
species and date information on it) containing 70% ethanol.

Farhad Rezaei *, Bijan Hatami, Sayed Habibollah Norbakhsh, Alireza Jalalizand

86

Agriculture Science Developments Vol(3), No (3), March, 2014.

To identify the species of leafhoppers, important characteristics of the external and internal morphology, such as wings form and venation,
vertex form and its designs, the form of different parts of face, antennae form and their position relative to compound eyes, located ocelli on
head and distance between them, shape of pronotum and scutellum and existing carinae on them, forms of legs and their spines, form of
sternums apodemes of the male abdomen and especially form of all part of the males genitalia were used. Then, to ensure and confirmation of
early detection of species, 6 adult males and females of each species were placed into separate vials and were sent to the insect taxonomy
research department of iranian research institute of plant protection in Tehran.
Data obtained from Samplings was recorded in special table carefully and analyzed by SAS statistical software. Also the average abundance
of leafhoppers species per square meter in the fields was calculated by using Excel software.

3. Results and Conclusion

The results after 14 months of survey and sampling in the four fields showed that leafhoppers Macrosteles laevis, Psammotettix alienus,
Empoasca decipiens and Laodelphax striatellus in three fields: wheat (early and late sowing) and maize are active as the dominant Leafhoppers
but in the barley field except the leafhopper E. decipiens all three other leafhoppers were recognized as the dominant, this indicates that barley is
not host of E. decipiens or not preferred, because of the botanical characteristics of barley which this leafhopper is not located on it and only
other three leafhoppers were as dominant in this field. Researches conducted by [1] in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province, [9] and [8] in Isfahan
province, [10], [13] and [15] in cereal fields of Germany, [12] in Bulgaria and [19] are consistent with the obtained results.
Analysis of variance of data showed that the relative abundance of the different fields and all leafhoppers was significant at probability level
of 0.01, that represents very significant difference in the relative abundance of leafhoppers in different fields (Table 1).
Table 1. Survey of the interactions of leafhoppers between time and fields
Mean of Squares
S.O.V
df
M. laevis
P. alienus
E. decipiens
L. striatellus
replication
9
0.13n.s
0.45*
0.09n.s
0.148n.s
**
**
**
time
45
12.35
11.13
1.04
2.37**
**
**
**
fields
3
111.72
112.98
6.95
36.76**
time fields
90
7.72**
6.04**
0.61**
2.02**
error
1242
Note: **, * and ns are significant at 1% and 5% probability levels and not significant, respectively. S.O.V: source of variation; df: degree of freedom

Among the dominant leafhoppers in all four fields, the most relative abundance related to leafhopper P. alienus (0.47 leafhoppers per square
meter) due to suitable climatic conditions and the preferred host in the region, and the lowest relative abundance of population related to
leafhopper E. decipiens (0.05 leafhoppers per square meter), and relative abundance of leafhoppers M. laevis and L. striatellus, were 0.37 and
0.13 leafhoppers per square meter respectively (Figure 1); researches of [1] in Shahrekord, [6] and [14] showed similar results. [20] reported that
in Bardsir, lalezar and Mahan areas in Kerman province leafhoppers P. alienus have the highest relative abundance in potato and citrus fields
respectively.

Figure 1. The mean abundance of leafhoppers per square meters in total of four fields

Among the all four fields, relative abundance of leafhoppers population in maize field was highest (2.53 leafhoppers per square meter)
because of special botanical characteristics of this crop that leafhopper prefers it as host and also planting it in the summer simultaneously with
peak of population activity of leafhoppers; and the lowest relative abundance of leafhoppers population related to late-sowing wheat field (0.21
leafhoppers per square meter) and relative in early-sowing wheat and barley fields, were 1.57 and 0.45 leafhoppers per square meter respectively
(Figure 2). Therefore, results of this study showed that dominant leafhoppers of wheat, maize and barley fields in Shahrekord region are similar
with the difference that there is no leafhopper E. decipiens in barley field. Given the importance of these leafhoppers, study of economic injury
level, economic thresholds and damage of them in cereals and other crops is necessary.

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Identifying the dominant leafhoppers in four field: early sowing wheat, late sowing wheat, barley and maize and their frequency in Shahrekord city
Agriculture Science Developments Vol(3), No (3), March, 2014.

Figure 1. The mean abundance of total of four leafhoppers in four fields of study

Acknowledgements
We thank Dr. Naser Sahragard, Dr. Ghobad Babaei (Department of Plant Protection Research, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research
Center of Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari) and Dr. Esmail Mahmoudi for kindly Support.

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