By Scout Nelson
Husker scientists have identified a key plant hormone that enhances sorghum’s natural defenses against the sugarcane aphid, a significant pest in U.S. agriculture since 2013. This federally funded project, led by researchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the USDA, is part of an ongoing multidisciplinary effort to improve sorghum’s pest resistance.
The research points to the role of auxin/IAA metabolism and the hormone IAA-Asp in boosting sorghum’s resistance. When plants had higher levels of IAA-Asp, due to a mutation in the Bmr12 gene, their resistance to aphids increased, explained Joe Louis,
Professor of Agricultural Entomology. The team’s work, published in New Phytologist, focuses on understanding the gene mutation's impact on aphid populations and sorghum’s defense mechanisms.
Researchers found that applying the IAA-Asp hormone directly to the aphid’s diet strengthened sorghum’s natural defense, supplementing existing methods like pesticides and genetically modified crops. The goal is to create a more sustainable pest management system, Louis said.
The sugarcane aphid damages sorghum by sucking out nutrients, covering plants in honeydew, and transmitting viral diseases. Louis and his colleagues will continue studying whether the hormone can protect sorghum from other aphid species.
This project, funded by the National Science Foundation and USDA, exemplifies the university’s long-standing research collaboration with the USDA, dating back to the 1800s.
Photo Credit: istock-mailson-pignata
Categories: Nebraska, Crops, Sorghum, Weather