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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 #320674
Title: Susceptibility of sunflower inbreds to Melanagromyza minimoides in Argentina and potential association with plant resistance traits

Author
item Prasifka, Jarrad
item BAZZALO, MARIA-EUGENIA - Advanta, Argentina

Submitted to: International Journal of Pest Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/17/2015
Publication Date: 3/28/2016
Citation: Prasifka, J.R., Bazzalo, M.E. 2016. Susceptibility of sunflower inbreds to Melanagromyza minimoides in Argentina and potential association with plant resistance traits. International Journal of Pest Management. 62(2):105-110.

Interpretive Summary: Seed-feeding by larvae of the mosquito head fly can substantially reduce yields of late-planted sunflower in South America and its management with insecticides or early-planting has other undesirable costs. Evaluation of inbred lines over three seasons indicated differences in emergence of adult flies, particularly between restorer (male) and maintainer (female) lines used for hybrid seed production. In one of two years, fly emergence (˜ damage) was negatively correlated with the relative amount of sesquiterpene lactones in florets of the tested lines. However, among the restorer lines it also was noted that single-headed inbreds produced far fewer flies than typical multi-headed restorers. Additional research is needed to establish the cause(s) of reduced susceptibility of inbreds, to determine whether parental lines influence fly damage in hybrids, and understand whether the fly has potential to develop into a pest of sunflowers in North America.

Technical Abstract: Seed-feeding by larvae of Melanagromyza minimoides can substantially reduce yields of late-planted sunflower in South America and its management with insecticides or early-planting has other undesirable costs. Evaluation of inbred lines over three seasons indicated differences in emergence of adult flies, particularly between restorer (male) and maintainer (female) lines used for hybrid seed production. In one of two years, fly emergence (˜ damage) was negatively correlated with the relative amount of sesquiterpene lactones in florets of the tested lines. Additional research is needed to establish the cause(s) of reduced susceptibility of inbreds and whether parental lines influence M. minimoides damage in hybrids.