Resistance of Certain Grain Sorghum Hybrids to Bird Damage in Louisiana
1970
Tipton, K. S. | Floyd, E. H. | Marshall, J. G. | McDevitt, J. B.
Several grain sorghum hybrids were evaluated for resistance to bird damage at Baton Rouge, Alexandria, and St. Joseph La. Most of the damage was done by the English sparrow during the milk stage of seed development. Loss from damage by birds varied from less than 1% to as great as 80% seed loss. Approximately onehalf the hybrids tested exhibited considerable resistance to birds. Bird feeding on grain sorghum in the field continued on a limited scale until the crop was harvested. During the milk stage of seed development, the bird crushed or mashed the juices from the seed. After hardening, the seed was removed from the plant and swallowed whole. Chemical analyses of developing grain of susceptible and resistant hybrids showed that the contents of tannic acid and total astringents of a resistant hybrid were approximately eight and four times, respectively, greater than that of two susceptible hybrids. Content of tannic acid and total astringents did not change with seed maturity.
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