EVALUATING LYGUS FEEDING BEHAVIOR, PREFERENCES, AND PATTERNS IN FABA BEAN CULTIVATION
Date
2025-03-20
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
0009-0009-8288-4236
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Faba bean (Vicia faba) is a crucial nitrogen-fixing legume crop, particularly important in Western Canada and Saskatchewan due to its adaptability to cool, moist growing conditions and its role in enhancing soil fertility. However, this crop faces significant challenges from insect pests, including Lygus, which feed using piercing-sucking mouthparts that produce mechanical damage to plant tissues. Lygus feeding on faba beans, particularly during the pod stage, results in economic losses through yield reductions, hull perforations, and downgrades in seed quality. Despite their economic impact, the relationship between Lygus feeding behavior and faba bean damage remains insufficiently understood.
This study aimed to address key aspects of Lygus biology and ecology on faba beans, focusing on their feeding behavior, host preferences, and spatial distribution. No-choice bioassays quantified the relationship between the number of Lygus individuals, exposure time, and the extent of seed damage. The electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique was employed to analyze the impact of feeding duration on damage in the seed. Choice experiments assessed Lygus host plant preferences, while field surveys across Saskatchewan evaluated Lygus population density, and species composition.
Results from these studies revealed significant correlations between Lygus feeding and seed quality, identified plant species preferences, and highlighted variations in population dynamics across different regions. These findings provide critical insights for the development of informed management strategies, contributing to the sustainable cultivation of faba beans and effective pest management practices.
Description
Keywords
Lygus, faba, seed damage, pest management
Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Plant Sciences
Program
Plant Sciences