Gayani Chanchala

sugarcane research institute; Sri Lanka · Crop Protection

Sugarcane White Leaf Disease (WLD) is one of the major threats to the sugarcane industry in Sri Lanka, and it is transmitted by a vector, Deltocephalus menoni (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). An experiment was conducted in the Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI), Uda Walawe, with the objective of determining potential repellents for D. menoni. A prelimina...

Internode Borer (INB) (Chilo sacchariphagus indicus, Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an economically important moth borer species in sugarcane in Sri Lanka. Plant resistance plays an important role in managing this pest. This study evaluated the association between INB infestation and two morphological characters of leaf sheath (sheath thickness and lea...

White Leaf Disease in sugarcane caused by a phytoplasma, which is transmitted by Deltocephalus menoni (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), has become a severe threat to the sugarcane industry in Sri Lanka. Therefore, monitoring of vector populations and the application of insecticides are required to contain secondary transmission of the disease. This study...

Information on the biology and ecology of Deltocephalus menoni (Homoptera: Cicadelidae), the only vector identified as responsible for spreading the White Leaf Disease (WLD)-causing phytoplasma in sugarcane in Sri Lanka, is essential to develop an effective disease management programme. Laboratory experiments involving choice tests and field studie...

Around 1,500 different species of white flies have been identified in the world, and four of them, including Aleurodicus dispersus (Spiralling whitefly), are currently posing a threat to coconut plantations in Sri Lanka. Spiralling whitefly incidence has been noticed on mature sugarcane crops in localised spots that are in close proximity to coconu...

The mealybug (Saccharicoccus sacchari) is common in sugarcane growing areas around the world. An infestation of S. sacchari decreased yield and quality parameters. Occasionally, high populations of S. sacchari have been reported from different locations in the country, alarming on potential intervention, probably through host plant resistance. Henc...

The internode borer, Chilo sacchariphagus indicus Kapur is an important moth borer on sugarcane in South Asia including India and Sri Lanka. Collaborative studies to evolve locally optimum sex pheromone trapping system for this pest were undertaken in Sri Lanka during 2019-20. The first study comparing alternative pheromone blend sources showed sig...

Abstract Sugarcane White Leaf Disease (SCWLD) is one of the most devastative phytoplasma diseases in Sri Lanka caused for substantial losses. Leafhopper Deltocephalus menoni (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is the locally-identified vector of SCWLD. Disease transmission proficiency of the vector is a key factor to consider in disease management. Therefor...

Adoption of cultural and mechanical measures, biological control through introduction, augmentation and conservation and use of insecticides have been the main management strategies for sugarcane pests after establishment of the commercial sugarcane plantations in Sri Lanka in the early 1960's. The most success story in biological control of sugarc...

Trichome act as physical deterrents to insects on the plants and it is important for the resistance against insect herbivores. This study was conducted at the Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI), Uda Walawe with the objective of determining the effect of trichome type, density, and length on selected behavioural and physiological characteristics of...

Sugarcane White Leaf Disease (WLD) is one of the most devastative phytoplasma disease which cause heavy losses to the sugar cane industry in Sri Lanka. Leaf hopper, Deltocephalus menoni (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is the locally identified vector of WLD. Disease transmission proficiency of the vector is a key factor to consider in disease management....

Sugarcane White Leaf Disease (WLD) is one of the most devastative phytoplasma disease which cause substantial losses to the sugar cane industry in Sri Lanka. Leaf hopper Deltocephalus menoni (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is the locally-identified vector of WLD. Disease transmission proficiency of the vector, is a key factor to consider in disease manag...

Purpose: Deltocephalus menoni is the vector of Sugarcane White Leaf Disease (WLD) and the causative agent of White Leaf Disease Phytoplasma (WLDP). WLDP is restricted to the phloem tissues facilitating its dispersal via sap containing phytoplasma during the vector feeding. Here, the configuration of the vascular bundle would be an important charact...

Deltocephalus menoni is a sap-sucking insect causing severe losses to the cane sugar industry by feeding on the crop and acting as the vector of Sugarcane white leaf disease (WLD) in Sri Lanka. This study was conducted to determine the most preferred age of the sugarcane plant for optimum feeding of D. menoni. Sugarcane plants of the varieties SL 9...

Deltocephalus menoni is a sap-sucking insect causing severe losses to the cane sugar industry by feeding on the crop and acting as the vector of sugarcane white leaf disease (WLD) in Sri Lanka. This study was conducted to determine the most preferred age of the sugarcane plant for optimum feeding of D. menoni. Sugarcane plants of the varieties SL 9...

Tri-trophic relationship among Sugarcane White Leaf Disease Phytoplasma (WLDP), Deltocephalus menoni (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) and sugarcane plant in secondary transmission of the disease Purpose: Sugarcane White Leaf Disease (WLD) is one of the most devastative diseases in cane-sugar industry in Sri Lanka and the causative agent is a distinct phy...

Sugarcane White Leaf Disease (WLD) is one of the major threats to the cane sugar industry in Sri Lanka and Deltocephalus menoni is the only recorded vector in local conditions. Epicuticular waxes (EW) play an important role in protecting plants against herbivore attacks. Therefore, this study was conducted with the objective of determining the effe...

ABSTRACTS Deltocephalus menoni is the only locallyidentified vector of Sugarcane White Leaf Disease (WLD) in Sri Lanka. Leaf lamina colour of sugarcane plants is one of the major characteristics that effects on approach and arrest of the vector during initial colonization. Differences in population levels of D. menoni have been recorded in sugarcan...

Sugarcane White Leaf Disease (WLD) is one of the major threats to the cane sugar industry in Sri Lanka and Deltocephalus menoni is the only recorded vector in local conditions. Epicuticular waxes (EW) play an important role in protecting plants against herbivore attacks. Therefore, this study was conducted with the objective of determining the effe...

Sugarcane grown in Ampara District in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka is mainly used for the production of sugar under the Gal Oya Plantations (PVT) Ltd, Hingurana. Nearly 2750 hectares have been cultivated in five zones; Galmaduwa, Hingurana, Neeththa, Varipathanchena and Deegawapiya. Sugarcane borers; Sesamia inferens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) a...

Sugarcane White Leaf Disease (WLD) is one of the major threats to the cane sugar industry in Sri Lanka and Deltocephalus menoni (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae) is the only locally-identified vector of this phytoplasma disease. In Sri Lanka, screening of sugarcane varieties for WLD resistance is done by field evaluation of them considerin...

Sugarcane White Leaf Disease (SWLD) is one of the major threats to the cane sugar industry in Sri Lanka. Deltocephalus menoni (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae) is the only locally-identified vector of this phytoplasma disease. Usually, the appearance of this disease coincides with the population dynamics of the vector. This study was condu...

This experiment was conducted to evaluate yield performance and White Leaf Disease (WLD) reaction of fifty commercial and near-commercial sugarcane varieties grown in a field with severe WLD incidence at Pelwatte. The tested varieties were planted in every alternate row of a heavily-WLD-infected field of first ratoon crop established with variety S...

ABSTRACT The first report of the exotic invasive pest, Fall Army Worm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Sri Lankan sugarcane plantations is reported in this paper. The first record of FAW attack to sugarcane in Sri Lanka was reported in a sugarcane field in Habaraluwewa zone at Sevanagala (60 23’N, 800 55’E). Subsequent atta...

Deltocephalus menoni is the only locally-identified vector of Sugarcane White Leaf Disease (WLD) in Sri Lanka. Leaf lamina colour of sugarcane plants is one of the major characteristics that effects on approach and arrest of the vector during initial colonization. Differences in population levels of D. menoni have been recorded in sugarcane fields...

White Leaf Disease in sugarcane caused by phytoplasma which is transmitted by Deltocephalus menoni (Hemiptera: Cicadalidae) has become a serious threat to sugarcane industry in Sri Lanka. Monitoring of vector populations and application of insecticides are required to contain secondary transmission of the disease. This study aims at studying the va...

ABSTRACT The sugarcane leaf hopper Pyrilla perpusilla Walker (Homoptera: Lophopidae) which was once a serious pest in sugarcane and brought under control by introducing its nymphal and adult ecto-parasitoid, Fulgoraecia (Epiricania) melanoleuca Fletcher (Lepidoptera: Epipyropidae) from Pakistan in 1992, seriously infested the newly-established see...

White leaf disease (WLD) is one of the devastating diseases caused by phytoplasma in sugarcane plantations in Sri Lanka. A fast and reliable method for detecting the phytoplasma is essential to prevent the spread of the disease through infected seed material. Currently, the Sugarcane Research Institute, Sri Lanka has been using the phytoplasma-spec...

Title: Survival of the Deltocephalus menoni (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), the Vector of Sugarcane White Leaf Disease in Sri Lanka on Alternative Host Plants K.M.G. Chanchala1*, V.K.A.S.M.Wanasinghe1and K.S. Hemachandra2 1Sugarcane Research Institute, Uda Walawe, Sri Lanka 2Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka *Corresponding aut...

This paper evaluate the seasonal variation of Deltocephalus menoni vector population and White Leaf disease (WLD) incidence in different sugarcane-growing areas in Sri Lanka and determines the effect of the former on the latter to develop an efficient management program for the disease. D. menoni populations and WLD incidence in Uda Walawe, Sevanag...