Evaluation of Several Grain Sorghum Characteristics for Resistance to the Banks Grass Mite12

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Abstract
Five grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, characteristics were evaluated to determine their effectiveness for resistance to Oligonychus pratensis (Banks). Characteristics tested were leaf tannin, maturity, senescence, leaf “bloom,” and midrib juiciness. Field evaluation indicated no resistance attributable to leaf tannin, leaf “bloom,” or midrib juiciness. Similar mite numbers occurred on early-and late-maturing lines, but mite damage was lower on later-maturing lines, suggesting tolerance to mite feeding. In the senescence comparison, higher mite numbers and damage occurred on senescing than on nonsenescing plants. These data indicate that leaf stress associated with reproductive physiology may be a key factor leading to spider mite outbreaks and should be of primary consideration in the development of mite-resistant varieties.

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