First Report of Stem Fly Melanagromyza sojae (Zehntner) Infesting Black Gram (Vigna mungo L.) in India

Author: N.P. Pathan, D.B. Sisodiya and B.L. Raghunandan

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Abstract

The most severe pest, Melanagromyza sojae (Zehntner), severely damages crops at the seedling stage. The samples of black gram stem fly infestation came from the experimental plot set up at the Entomology Farm, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand. The adult stem fly punctures the tissues of leaves with its ovipositor to lay its eggs. The first set of seedling leaves are favoured locations for oviposition and result in widespread tunnelling in young plants. Infested plants grow yellowish, stunted, and in severe situations, the pest completely destroys the crop as a result of the maggot feeding inside the stem after the egg hatches. If the injured plant lives, the damage will eventually show up in the older plants. When a plant is severely attacked, an infected leaf first hangs down before the plant begins to wilt and the leaves start to fall. The yield could be diminished if the stems crack. Finding an insect's species merely based on its molecular makeup is fairly challenging. In order to identify insect species, it is crucial to use a morphological key in addition to the molecular base. The species authentication and generation of DNA barcode for stem fly M. sojae infesting black gram was carried out through molecular characterization. Phylogeny analysis of stem fly AAU voucher specimen with the sequence of M. sojae obtained from NCBI database revealed the significant similarity with one specimen of M. sojae viz. NCBI accession no. MF441483.The identification and verification of the specimen as a stem fly, M. sojae infesting black gram, appears to be supported by the detailed molecular characterization of Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I (COXI). In India, this is the first report citing M. sojae as stem fly infesting black gram.

Keywords

Stem fly, Black gram, Melanagromyza sojae, tunneling and COXI

Conclusion

The findings of morphological and molecular characterization studies confirms the species as M. sojae and this is the first confirmed report of the stem fly, Melanagromyza sojae (Zehntner) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) infesting black gram in Gujarat, India. The extensive molecular characterization of Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I (COXI) apparently supports the identification and authentication of the specimen as stem fly, M. sojae. In India, this is the first report citing M. sojae as stem fly infesting black gram. Present days, Melanagromyza sojae is becoming a major pest of several bean crops. Its management should start shortly after germination since, being a dipteran pest, it can cause significant damage to crops before the stems of the plants harden. Therefore, future management approaches should concentrate on the insect's aforementioned vulnerable point.

References

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How to cite this article

N.P. Pathan, D. B. Sisodiya and B.L. Raghunandan (2023). First Report of Stem Fly Melanagromyza sojae (Zehntner) Infesting Black Gram (Vigna mungo L.) in India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(4): 637-642.