Genetic variation in chrysanthemum for resistance to Frankliniella occidentalis

Abstract

In a choice‐experiment, 42 chrysanthemum cultivars were screened for resistance to Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Oviposition preference, two types of feeding damage and thrips numbers per flower were recorded as measures of resistance. A large genetic variation in thrips resistance was found among the cultivars screened. The amount of feeding damage was strongly determined by oviposition preference. Besides, a positive correlation was found between the oviposition preference in non‐flowering chrysanthemums (number of eggs) and flowering chrysanthemums (number of thrips per flower). Thrips feeding on young, developing tissues, causes growth damage because affected cells are unable to expand and leaves become distorted. Thrips feeding on older, expanded leaves causes cells to become filled with air, resulting in ‘silver’ damage. The amounts of growth‐ and ‘silver’ damage were negatively correlated suggesting that thrips chose either young or older leaves to feed on. The order of resistance among cultivars did not change during the experiment. In order to get more insight in resistance mechanisms the influence of some plant‐ and flower characters on resistance was examined. The plant characters height, number of leaves, flower production and flower weight were all negatively correlated with resistance. It is suggested that tall chrysanthemum cultivars with many and large flowers may invest less in defence than smaller cultivars, and therefore are more damaged by thrips.

NMR Metabolomics of Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) Resistance in Senecio Hybrids

“…Morphological plant traits were not involved in resistance to western flower thrips in chrysanthemum (de Jager et al 1995a). Instead, resistance was influenced by the chemical composition of host plants (de Jager et al 1995b(de Jager et al , 1996.…”

“…Thrips have piercing-sucking mouthparts, which enable them to feed on different types of plant cells (Hunter and Ullman 1989). Feeding on actively growing tissue leads to distortion, reduction in plant growth, and eventually yields loss, while feeding on expanded tissue results in the characteristic silver leaf scars, which affect product appearance and reduce market quality (de Jager et al 1995a). Western flower thrips causes indirect damage as the primary vector of tospoviruses (Maris et al 2002).…”

“…Instead, resistance was influenced by the chemical composition of host plants (de Jager et al 1995b(de Jager et al , 1996. Thrips preferentially feed on the older chrysanthemum leaves (de Jager et al 1995a). No specific metabolites directly related to the resistance have yet been identified.…”

Identification of Chlorogenic Acid as a Resistance Factor for Thrips in Chrysanthemum

“…Thrips preferentially feed on the older chrysanthemum leaves (de Jager et al, 1995a). Morphological plant characters were not involved in resistance to western flower thrips in chrysanthemum (de Jager et al, 1995a).…”

“…Feeding on developing tissue leads to growth damage including distortion, reduction in plant growth, and eventually yields loss. Feeding on expanded tissue results in the characteristic silver damage, which affects product appearance and reduces market quality (de Jager et al, 1995a). Indirect damage is caused by transmission of tospoviruses (Maris et al, 2003).…”