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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » Crop Production and Pest Control Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #105610
Title: BIOTYPE COMPOSITION OF HESSIAN FLY (DIPTERA: CECIDOMYIIDAE) POPULATIONS FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN, MIDWESTERN AND NORTHWESTERN UNITED STATES AND VIRULENCE TO RESISTANCE GENES IN WHEAT

Author
item Ratcliffe, Roger
item CAMBRON, S - PURDUE UNIVERSITY
item FLANDERS, K - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item BOSQUE-PEREZ, N - UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
item Clement, Stephen
item OHM, H - PURDUE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/17/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The Hessian fly is a major insect pest of wheat throughout the U. S. Although widespread outbreaks of the fly are not common, local outbreaks can cause extensive losses every year. The most rational control strategies favor use of suppression methods that do not rely on insecticides. The fly has been managed effectively in much of the U. S. by yuse of resistant wheat varieties. The durability of most resistant varieties, however, is limited by the ability of flies to overcome resistance (develop virulence) after prolonged exposure to resistant varieties. To effectively manage virulent flies it is necessary to monitor field populations and determine genetic changes that occur within geographical regions that would reduce effectiveness of resistant wheat varieties adapted to these regions. The present research investigated the race, or biotype, composition of Hessian fly populations from key wheat growing areas in the southeastern, mid-western, and northwestern U. S. tha have undergone, or are undergoing, change as a result of exposure to resistant wheat varieties. A new, highly effective Hessian fly-resistant wheat variety released by Purdue University and the USDA, ARS, also was tested against representative populations from the three regions. Research demonstrated that one or more of the presently available resistance genes would be effective in wheat varieties adapted to the three regions. Resistance in Purdue wheat variety INW9811 was effective against a broad range of fly populations. Information will enable wheat breeders to select the most promising resistance genes to incorporate into new wheat varieties developed for specific wheat-growing regions of the U.S. This will benefit wheat growers by improving stability of resistance in new wheat varieties.

Technical Abstract: Twenty-three Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say), populations from the southeastern, midwestern, and northwestern United States were evaluated for biotype composition. Nine of the populations, plus populations collected from the mid-Atlantic state area in 1989 and 1996, also were tested against the wheat cultivar 'INW9811' that carries H13 resistance to Hessian fly biotype 'L', and two Purdue wheat lines with unidentified genes for resistance. Biotypes 'L' and 'O', combined, made up >60% of all Alabama populations. Biotype 'L' was predominant in the northern third and biotype 'O' in the southern two-thirds of the state. Based on biotype data, H7H8 resistance should be highly effective in central and southern Alabama. Biotype 'L' was predominant in Mississippi and Indiana populations, indicating a loss of effectiveness of most resistance genes. Hessian fly populations from Idaho and Washington contained one or more of 10 virulent biotypes; however, only biotypes 'E', 'F', and 'G' occurred at frequencies >12%. The avirulent biotype 'GP' made up 25-57% of Idaho and Washington fly populations, which indicated that the presently deployed H3 gene would provide a moderate to high level of resistance, depending upon location. The H13 resistance in INW9811 was highly to moderately effective against all fly populations. Wheat line CI17960-1-1-2-4-2-10 likely carries the H13 resistance gene, based on the similarity of its response and that of INW9811 to 8 fly populations. Continued monitoring of biotype frequency in Hessian fly populations is required for optimal deployment and management of resistance genes in all wheat production areas.