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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Vegetable Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #377688
Research Project: Trait Discovery, Genetics, and Enhancement of Allium, Cucumis, and Daucus Germplasm

Location: Vegetable Crops Research

Title: Identities of and Phenotypic Variation for Epicuticular Waxes among Leaves and Plants from Inbred Onion Populations

Author
item KHOSA, JIFFINVIR - University Of Wisconsin
item HUNSAKER, DEREK - University Of Wisconsin
item Havey, Michael

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/9/2020
Publication Date: 11/9/2020
Citation: Khosa, J.S., Hunsaker, D.J., Havey, M.J. 2020. Identities of and Phenotypic Variation for Epicuticular Waxes among Leaves and Plants from Inbred Onion Populations. HortScience. 55(12):2008–2010. 2020. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15414-20.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15414-20

Interpretive Summary: The amounts and types of waxes on the surface of onion leaves affect feeding damage by onion thrips, the main insect pest of onion worldwide). This study used gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) to measure over time the amounts of waxes on leaves of inbred onion plants with different amounts of waxes on foliage. Higher coefficients of variation were observed for less abundant waxes on leaves. Older leaves had higher amounts of most waxes compared with younger leaves on the same plant. Except for one minor wax, amounts of individual waxes on leaves were not significantly different for plants of different ages. There was a significant inbred by sampling date interaction primarily due to lower amounts of waxes on the leaves of older plants one inbred. These results indicate that there is little advantage to multiple samplings of leaves on the same plant over time and resources should be concentrated on sampling more plants. These results will be of interest to onion breeders selecting unique wax profiles to develop thrips-resistant onions.

Technical Abstract: The amounts and types of epicuticular waxes on onion (Allium cepa) leaves affect feeding damage by onion thrips (Thrips tabaci). This study used gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) to measure over time the amounts of waxes on leaves of inbred onion plants with glossy, semi-glossy, and waxy foliage. Higher coefficients of variation were observed for less abundant waxes on the leaves of doubled haploid onions. Older leaves had higher amounts of most waxes compared with younger leaves on the same plant. Except for one minor wax, amounts of individual waxes on leaves were not significantly different for plants of different ages. There was a significant inbred by sampling date interaction primarily due to lower amounts of waxes on the leaves of older plants from the semi-glossy inbred. These results indicate that there is little advantage to multiple samplings of leaves on the same plant over time and should be helpful for selection of unique epicuticular wax profiles to develop thrips-resistant onions.