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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #221060
Title: Inheritance of Chinch bug resistance in pearl millet

Author
item Maas, Andrea
item Ni, Xinzhi

Submitted to: Plant Resistance to Insects Workshop Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2008
Publication Date: 2/10/2008
Citation: Maas, A.L., Ni, X. 2008. Inheritance of Chinch bug resistance in pearl millet. In: Proceedings of the International Plant Resistance to Insects Workshop, February 10-13, 2008, Ft. Collins, Colorado. p. 23.

Interpretive Summary: not required

Technical Abstract: Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)] is a promising alternative feed grain for southeastern crop productions systems, because of its ability to reliably produce grain, under drought conditions on sandy, acidic, and low fertility soils. Chinch bug [Blissus leucopterus leucopterus (Say) (Heteroptera:Blissidae)] infestation was very high in 2006 and 2007 confirming early predictions that chinch bug would be the most important insect pest on pearl millet. The objective of this research was to determine if chinch bug resistance exists in current elite inbred parental materials, and if so what level of inheritance was demonstrated for this trait. In September 2006, 44 inbred lines replicated six times were assessed for resistance under heavy natural chinch bug infestation. In 2007 149 F1 Hybrid progenies, replicated three times were assessed twice (July 16 & 30) under heavy natural chinch bug infestation. Plots were scored 0 (no damage) to 4 (dead) for insect damage. Inbred lines ranged 0.9 to 2.8, and hybrids ranged 1.0 to 3.3. Observed inheritance (hn2) for this population was 0.69 with a P<0.001.