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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sunflower and Plant Biology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #242018
Title: Resistance in Cultivated Sunflower Germplasm to the Red Sunflower Seed Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the Northern Great Plains

Author
item Charlet, Laurence
item Seiler, Gerald
item GRADY, KATHLEEN - South Dakota State University
item Hulke, Brent
item CHIRUMAMILLA, ANITHA - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Journal of Kansas Entomological Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/29/2009
Publication Date: 4/5/2010
Citation: Charlet, L.D., Seiler, G.J., Grady, K.A., Hulke, B.S., Chirumamilla, A. 2010. Resistance in Cultivated Sunflower Germplasm to the Red Sunflower Seed Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the Northern Great Plains. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society. 83:51-57.

Interpretive Summary: A 6-year field study evaluated 52 sunflower accessions, 20 breeding lines, and 9 interspecific crosses for resistance to infestation by naturally occurring populations of the red sunflower seed weevil. Germplasm with potential sources of resistance to attack was identified. The accession PI 162453 averaged only 8% damaged seed per head in 3 years of testing and PI 431545 averaged 8% damaged seed per head in 4 years of trials. The accessions PI 431542 and PI 650375, which were tested for five years, averaged 5% and 10% damaged seed per head, respectively over the study. PI 431542 averaged less than 6% in all but one year of testing. Additional accessions that appeared promising in two consecutive years of trials included PI 195573, PI 219649, PI 250085, and PI 432516. Results revealed potential for developing resistant genotypes for decreasing seed feeding injury by the red sunflower seed weevil. Research is in progress to introgress resistance genes from the identified lines into cultivated sunflower through conventional breeding facilitated by the use of DNA marker-assisted selection.

Technical Abstract: A 6-year field study evaluated 52 sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., accessions, 20 breeding lines, and 9 interspecific crosses for resistance to infestation by naturally occurring populations of the red sunflower seed weevil, Smicronyx fulvus LeConte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Germplasm with potential sources of resistance to attack was identified. The accession PI 162453 averaged only 8% damaged seed per head in 3 years of testing and PI 431545 averaged 8% damaged seed per head in 4 years of trials. The accessions PI 431542 and PI 650375, which were tested for five years, averaged 5% and 10% damaged seed per head, respectively over the study. PI 431542 averaged less than 6% in all but one year of testing. Additional accessions that appeared promising in two consecutive years of trials included PI 195573, PI 219649, PI 250085, and PI 432516. Hybrid 894 consistently had high seed damage from S. fulvus feeding. Results revealed potential for developing resistant genotypes for decreasing seed feeding injury by the red sunflower seed weevil. Research is in progress to introgress resistance genes from the identified lines into cultivated sunflower through conventional breeding facilitated by the use of marker-assisted selection.