Differential Responses of Forage Pearl Millet Genotypes to Chinch Bug (Heteroptera: Blissidae) Feeding

ABSTRACT Chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus leucopterus (Say) (Heteroptera: Blissidae), is one of the most important insect pests on forage pearl millet, Pennisetum glaucum L. R. Br., production in the southeastern United States. Twenty-nine forage pearl millet genotypes were assessed for chinch bug resistance by using stunt and necrosis ratings in combination with quantitative measurements of chlorophyll content and leaf photosynthetic rate. Plant stunt and leaf sheath necrosis ratings, and chlorophyll content in flag leaves differed among the 29 genotypes. Photosynthetic rate differed both among the noninfested control and among the chinch bug-infested plants. The chinch bug-infested plants had lower photosynthetic rate than the noninfested control plants. Inbreds with resistance superior to that of Tift 23DB were identified for hybrid development. When the 29 pearl millet genotypes were assessed by the six parameters by using cluster analysis, genotypes 07F-1226, 07F-1229, 07F-1231, 07F-1235, 07F-1238, 07...