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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #159692
Title: POTENTIAL RESISTANCE OF CRAPE MYRTLE CULTIVARS TO FLEA BEETLE (COLEOPTERA:CHRYSOMELIDAE)AND JAPANESE BETTLE (COLEOPTERA:SCARABAEIDAE)DAMAGE

Author
item PETTIS, GRETCHEN - UNIV OF GEORGIA
item Boyd Jr, David
item BRAMAN, KRISTINE - UNIV OF GEORGIA
item POUNDERS, CECIL - MISSISSIPPI STATE EXTEN

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/23/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Pettis, G.V., Boyd Jr, D.W., Braman, K., Pounders, C. 2004. Potential resistance of crape myrtle cultivars to flea beetle (coleoptera:chrysomelidae)and japanese bettle (coleoptera:scarabaeidae)damage. Journal of Economic Entomology. 97: 981-992

Interpretive Summary: Commercially grown crape myrtles are often attacked by leaf-feeding beetles which causes significant economic problems for growers. We evaluated in the laboratory and field over 40 cultivars of crape myrtles to establish which cultivars were resistant to the metallic flea beetle and the Japanese beeetle. We found that most of the crape myrtle cultivars that resulted from crosses between two species of crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica and L. fauriei) were resistant to the beetles. This information will be used by growers to reduce time and effort in controlling the beetles in their crape myrtle fields by reducing the number of cultivars that need to be monitored and sprayed. This information will be used by plant breeders to select for crape myrtles with beetle resistance along with other desirable horticultural traits.

Technical Abstract: Field and laboratory studies were conducted to determine resistance of crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) to Japanese beeltes (Popillia japonica) and to metallic flea beeltes (Altica spp.). Damage ratings showed variation among cultivars in susceptibility to beetle feeding, with those cultivars with L. fauriei in their parentage showing the least amount of damage, with a couple of exceptions. Feeding studies in the laboratory corresponded with the damage ratings. The data indicated that both beetle species feed more profusely on certain cultivars of L. indica, such as 'Country Red', 'Twilight', and 'Carloina Beauty'; than interspecific cultivars with L. fauriei in their parentage, such as 'Natchez'; 'Tonto'; and 'Muskogee'. Published accounts of Lagerstroemia cultivar trials for resistance to powdery mildew, Cercospora leaf spot and crape myrtle aphid were also examined for potential cross resistance to multiple pests. When comparing the effect of parentage on all of the major pests of crape myrtle, L. faurei infers resistance to all pests except crape myrtle aphid. With this informaiton, growers can more effectively target scounting measures to the most susceptible cultivars and breeders can select plants that will require the fewest chemical inputs.