Identification of new sources of Hessian fly resistance in tetraploid wheat

Abstract

Hessian fly (HF) (Mayetiola destructor Say) is an obligate destructive pest of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) causing severe economic losses worldwide. Deployment of resistant wheat cultivars harboring HF resistance (H) genes is still the most effective and economical method to manage this insect pest. However, extensive use of H genes can impose selection pressure on HF populations, leading to the development of virulent biotypes that can breakdown plant resistance. Further, increase in environmental temperatures to 25–30°C during the wheat‐growing season can also negatively impact HF resistance, thereby necessitating the identification of new and novel sources of HF resistance and evaluate them for temperature sensitivity. In the current study, we evaluated the phenotypic response of 254 Triticum turgidum (L.) wheat accessions of African origin to Biotype L HF infestation. Of these, 10 accessions exhibited >70% resistance to Biotype L HF infestation. These 10 resistant accessions also showed >70% resistance when screened with vH13 HF biotype. Additionally, these HF resistant lines were evaluated for expression of resistance at a higher temperature of 30°C, and three tetraploid wheat accessions that maintained 100% resistance to Biotype L HF at the increased temperature were identified. These newly identified HF resistant lines offer valuable tools to breeders and farmers that can be used in breeding programs to develop cultivars for durable resistance to HF and efficient crop management.

Tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum) lines from the United States as a source of Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) resistance

“…Of these lines, 276 are in breeding status, 73 cultivars, 15 genetic stocks and 10 of uncertain improvement status. For confirming the purity of the fly stocks hexaploid wheat (T. aestivum) lines containing different H genes resulting in differential responses for each fly genotype, were included in the study as described in Nemacheck et al (2023).…”

“…In each flat, 10 rows were pressed into the soil. When the plants reached the early 2-leaf stage, a flat containing Hf biotype L fly material was placed and the entire set up was covered with a cheese cloth as described in Nemacheck et al (2023). Between 8 and 14 DAH, plants were visually screened for a stunted or normal plant phenotype as susceptible or resistant plants, respectively.…”

“…Further, higher environmental temperatures (25-30°C) render H genes ineffective or result in reduced resistance in wheat to Hf larval attack (Chen et al, 2014;Nemacheck et al, 2023;Tang et al, 2018), thereby necessitating constant evaluation of Hf-resistant wheat lines for temperature sensitivity.…”

Understanding and improving resistance to Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) in US wheat using genetic mapping and molecular techniques

“…Potential new sources of resistance at high temperatures have been discovered in T. turgidum wheat accessions from Tunisia, Morocco, Ethiopia, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Italy (Nemacheck et al., 2023; Subramanyam & Nemacheck, 2023). Twelve of the African lines showed resistance to the highly virulent vH13 Hessian fly biotype with three lines maintaining 100% resistance at temperatures of 30 ° C (Nemacheck et al., 2023). Four Asian and European lines showed over 70% resistance to vH13 but lost resistance at 30 ° C (Subramanyam & Nemacheck, 2023).…”

“…These have not yet been mapped to determine if they are novel sources of resistance. However, the high levels of resistance to the most virulent biotype even at high temperatures are promising for use in wheat breeding programs worldwide (Nemacheck et al., 2023; Subramanyam & Nemacheck, 2023).…”