The Role of Leaf Pubescence in Resistance to Yellow Sugarcane Aphids (YSA), Sipha flava, in Selected Sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum Varieties

Sakadzo, N., M. Mubvuma, M. C. Mukanga, A. R. S. Mabveni and R. Musundire. 2026. The Role of Leaf Pubescence in Resistance to Yellow Sugarcane Aphids (YSA), Sipha flava, in Selected Sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum Varieties. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 44(1):55-61. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001377 Screening for leaf pubescence in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) varieties against yellow sugarcane aphid (YSA) (Sipha flava) remains unexplored in the sugar industry of Zimbabwe. Field trials were undertaken to investigate the interaction between leaf pubescence and YSA. A 7*2*3 factorial complete randomized block design (CRBD) replicated four times was used, under two aphid treatments (Acetamiprid pesticide sprayed (control) and YSA infested). The first factor was varieties (96-1107, 00-1165, ZN 10, ZN 8, ZN 9, ZN 3L, and N14), aphid treatment was the second factor at two levels (sprayed and infested), and leaf position was the third factor (leaf position-1, leaf position-2 and leaf position-3). Quantitative data on trichome density (mm2) was measured using a light microscope, and aphids were physically counted to determine their number. The trichome density (mm2) and aphid number in the control varied greatly (p