Effect of Steam Distillate Extract of a Resistant Rice Variety on Feeding Behavior of Nephotettix virescens (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)

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Abstract
Nephotettix virescens (Distant), a leafhopper pest of rice, is primarily a phloem feeder on plants of the susceptible rice variety ‘Taichung Native l’ (TN1), but it becomes a xylem drinker on resistant ‘ASD7’ plants. The insect’s feeding behavior on ‘TN1’ plants sprayed with the steam distillate extract of ‘ASD7’ plants was monitored with an electronic monitoring device and a lignin-specific dye. Application of ‘ASD7’ extract to susceptible ‘TN1’ plants disrupted the normal feeding behavior of the insect. Phloem feeding by the insect was significantly (P < 0.05) less on ‘TN1’ plants sprayed with ‘ASD7’ extract at 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 ppm than on control ‘TN1’ plants sprayed with acetone/waler mixture. The reduced phloem feeding on the extract-treated plants was associated with a significant (P < 0.05) increase in probing frequency and an increase in duration of salivation and xylem drinking.