Abstract:

The alfalfa seed chalcid, Bruchophagus roddi Gussakovskiy, 1933 (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) is an important pest of alfalfa seeds (Medicago sativa L.). The study was carried out in order to determine the infestation rates of B. roddi on alfalfa seeds in alfalfa seed producing areas of Iğdır, Ağrı, Kars and Van provinces of the Eastern Anatolia Region. Seed sample surveys were performed in 76 alfalfa fields in August and September of 2016 and 2017. For this purpose, 100 seed clusters were collected from each alfalfa field. From the collected seed clusters, 5 seed capsules from each of 20 seed clusters (25 seed capsules in total) were dissected and larval counts were made. As a result, it was determined that the seeds were infested with B. roddi in all locations where the studies were carried out. On average, infestation rates of the seeds in 2016 and 2017 were 34.3% and 17.2% in Iğdır province, 25.1% and 13.6% in Ağrı province, 18.4% and 26.4% in Kars province, and 21% and 11.7% in Van province, respectively. It has been concluded that this insect is an important pest that needs attention in alfalfa seed producing areas in Türkiye.

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