Mode of Feeding and Growth of Nephotettix virescens (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) on Selected Resistant and Susceptible Rice Varieties

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Abstract
The feeding activity of a leafhopper, Nephotettix virescens (Distant), on nine genetically diverse rice varieties was monitored with an electronic recording device. The varieties tested were the leafhopper resistant ‘Pankhari 203’ (Glh 1), ‘ASD7’ (Glh 2), ‘IR8’ (Glh 3), ‘Ptb 8’ (Glh 4), ‘ASD8’ (Glh 5), ‘IR36’ (Glh 6), ‘Moddai Karuppan’ (Glh 7), the highly resistant ‘IR29’ (resistance gene not identified), and the susceptible ‘Taichung Native 1’ (TN1) (no resistance gene). Distinct differences in waveforms for probing, salivation, phloem feeding, and xylem drinking were recorded on resistant and susceptible rice plants. The waveforms indicated that the insect fed primarily from the phloem of susceptible ‘TN1’ plants, but switched to the xylem on resistant varieties. N. virescens made a significantly higher number of brief and repeated probes on resistant varieties than on susceptible ‘TN1’ plants. However, differences in the mean duration of salivation on resistant and susceptible varieties were not associated with resistance. Bulk seedling screening of the test varieties and the insect‘s growth on them were used as criteria for evaluation of resistance to N. virescens for comparison with results of electronic recording.