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Title: Variation to cause host injury between Russian wheat aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) clones virulent to Dn4 wheat

Author
item Shufran, Kevin
item Mornhinweg, Dolores - Do
item Baker, Cheryl
item Porter, David

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/9/2007
Publication Date: 10/1/2007
Citation: Shufran, K.A., Mornhinweg, D.W., Baker, C.A., Porter, D.R. 2007. Variation to cause host injury between Russian wheat aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) clones virulent to Dn4 wheat. Journal of Economic Entomology. 100(5):1685-1691.

Interpretive Summary: Since 2003, many areas of the world (including the USA) have seen the occurrence of Russian wheat aphid populations capable of damaging previously resistant wheat. These populations have been termed biotypes. Most research has focused on variation of feeding damage by a biotype to different resistance genes or sources. Little is known about variation occurring within biotypes in the ability or degree to cause damage to a single resistance source. We tested five populations of one for variation in ability to cause damage on both susceptible and resistant wheat and barley. Variation was found within the biotype to cause injury on both susceptible and resistant varieties of wheat and barley. The results further knowledge on the development of Russian wheat aphid biotypes and to the degree they are genetically related.

Technical Abstract: Since 2003, many areas of the world (including the USA) has seen the occurrence of Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko) populations capable of injuring wheat containing the Dn4 resistance gene. These have been termed biotype RWA2, and are identified by observations of plant reaction by D. noxia feeding. Most research has focused on variation of feeding damage by a biotype to different resistance genes or sources. Little is known about variation occurring within biotypes in the ability or degree to cause damage to a single resistance source. We evaluated five single maternal lineages (clones) of the D. noxia biotype RWA2 from Colorado and Texas virulent to Dn4 wheat, for variation in ability to cause plant injury on both susceptible and resistant wheat and barley. Variation to cause injury on both susceptible and resistant varieties of wheat and barley was found within RWA2. These results argue against aphid biotypes as being single genotypes, and suggest that gene flow occurs within and between biotypes, or there were multiple origins of the Dn4 injurious populations.