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Title: GENE STACKING FOR DURABLE PEST RESISTANCE IN SUGARBEET ROOTS

Author
item Smigocki, Anna
item PUTHOFF, DAVID - MPPL
item IVIC-HAYMES, SNEZANA - TOWSON UNIV TOWSON MD
item ZUZGA, SABINA - WARSAW POLAND

Submitted to: Annual Beet Sugar Development Foundation Research Report
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/16/2007
Publication Date: 6/15/2007
Citation: Smigocki, A.C., Puthoff, D.P., Ivic-Haymes, S., Zuzga, S. 2007. Gene stacking for durable pest resistance in sugarbeet roots. Annual Beet Sugar Development Foundation Research Report. p. E2-E4.

Interpretive Summary: Disease and pest problems are responsible for decreases in production of sugar from sugar beet. One of the most devastating insect pests of sugar beet is the sugar beet root maggot that is currently found in more than half of all U.S. sugar beet fields. Chemical insecticides are the only available measure for control of the maggot and a strong drive exists for development of alternative, environmentally friendly control measures. To gain a better understanding of how plants protect themselves from insect attack, we identified sugar beet genes that respond to sugar beet root maggot infestation in either root maggot-susceptible or moderately resistant sugar beet varieties. Based on molecular characterization, one gene in particular was selected for further analysis of its role in root maggot resistance. Overproduction of the gene in a laboratory model of a sugar beet root system is being utilized to assess this gene’s function in insect resistance. This information will be used by scientists to increase our knowledge of mechanisms of plant resistance against insects and lead to environmentally safer approaches of insect control by reducing the use of harmful pesticides.

Technical Abstract: We are exploring novel approaches for managing sugar beet root pests. Our goal is to gain new knowledge of root defense response mechanisms that could be more broadly applied for control of plant pests and pathogens. Using the sugar beet root maggot (SBRM, Tetanops myopaeformis) and sugarbeet as a root model system, we recently identified sugar beet root ESTs that are modulated by SBRM feeding in both a moderately resistant (F1016) and a susceptible parental (F1010) line (Puthoff and Smigocki, 2007). The EST libraries we generated are enriched for genes important in the initial responses of sugar beet roots to insect herbivory. Our experimental system utilized tissues from a feeding bioassay capable of screening for SBRM resistance and thus reflects field-like conditions (Smigocki et al., 2006). Based on molecular characterization, one gene in particular was selected for further analysis of its role in root maggot resistance. Overproduction of the gene in a laboratory model of a sugar beet root system is being utilized to assess this gene’s function in resistance of sugar beet against insects.