Hyperspectral Spectrometry as a Means to Differentiate Uninfested and Infested Winter Wheat by Greenbug (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

• Published in: Journal of economic entomology 2006-10, Vol.99 (5), p.1682-1690
• Main Authors: Mirik, Mustafa, Michels, Gerald J., Kassymzhanova-Mirik, Sabina, Elliott, Norman C., Bowling, Roxanne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Aphids - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Control; crop damage; FIELD AND FORAGE CROPS; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects. Techniques; Generalities; greenbug; hyperspectral imagery; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Population Density; portable equipment; Protozoa. Invertebrates; reflectance; remote sensing; Schizaphis graminum; spectral analysis; spectral signature; spectral signatures; spectral vegetation indices; spectrometers; Spectrophotometry - methods; Teledetection and vegetation maps; Triticum - parasitology; Triticum aestivum; vegetation indices; wheat; winter wheat
• ISSN: 0022-0493; 1938-291X
• DOI: 10.1603/0022-0493-99.5.1682

Although spectral remote sensing techniques have been used to study many ecological variables and biotic and abiotic stresses to agricultural crops over decades, the potential use of these techniques for greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) infestations and damage to wheat, Triticum aestivum L., under field conditions is unknown. Hence, this research was conducted to investigate: 1) the applicability and feasibility of using a portable narrow-banded (hyperspectral) remote sensing instrument to identify and discern differences in spectral reflection patterns (spectral signatures) of winter wheat canopies with and without greenbug damage; and 2) the relationship between miscellaneous spectral vegetation indices and greenbug density in wheat canopies growing in two fields and under greenhouse conditions. Both greenbug and reflectance data were collected from 0.25-, 0.37-, and 1-m2 plots in one of the fields, greenhouse, and the other field, respectively. Regardless of the growth conditions, greenbug-damaged wheat canopies had higher reflectance in the visible range and less in the near infrared regions of the spectrum when compared with undamaged canopies. In addition to percentage of reflectance comparison, a large number of spectral vegetation indices drawn from the literature were calculated and correlated with greenbug density. Linear regression analyses revealed high relationships (R2 ranged from 0.62 to 0.85) between greenbug density and spectral vegetation indices. These results indicate that hyperspectral remotely sensed data with an appropriate pixel size have the potential to portray greenbug density and discriminate its damage to wheat with repeated accuracy and precision.