Collection of rice phloem sap from stylets of homopterous insects severed by YAG laser

Abstract

Pure phloem sap from rice plant was collected by a method similar to the aphid technique using leafhoppers and planthoppers instead. A Yttrium-Aluminium Garnet laser was used to sever the insect stylets. Sap exuded from the plant through the stylet for up to 3 hr at a rate of 0.2 μl/hr. Analysis of the sap for sugars revealed that the only carbohydrate present was sucrose; its content was estimated to be 17% and remained at this level for 3 hr.