New sources of Hessian fly resistance in Triticum turgidum wheat lines from Asia and Europe

Authors: Subramanyam, Subhashree; Nemacheck, Jill

Submitted to: Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/5/2023
Publication Date: 3/15/2023
Citation: Subramanyam, S., Nemacheck, J.A. 2023. New sources of Hessian fly resistance in Triticum turgidum wheat lines from Asia and Europe. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 70:1341-1347. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-023-01566-z.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-023-01566-z

Interpretive Summary: The insect pest, Hessian fly, poses a threat to global wheat production worldwide with severe economic losses. Development of damaging and eventually fatal Hessian fly biotypes is a real threat to the breakdown of resistance in wheat lines currently deployed. Hence, continual efforts are required to identify new and novel sources of wheat resistance to Hessian fly. In this study we evaluated 178 wheat accessions originating from Asia and Europe and found four lines that exhibit resistance to two Hessian fly biotypes. These can potentially be used in wheat breeding programs to develop Hessian fly resistant cultivars. Additionally, we demonstrated that at higher temperatures one of the wheat lines showed tolerance that offers a more durable source of resistance as tolerance allows both the insect and plant to thrive with no penalty to either insect development or plant yield. Thus, the threat of Hessian flies developing into more lethal biotypes is effectively minimized. These lines will add to the list of already available resistant wheat lines to mitigate the devastating effects of this insect pest and ensure food security.

Technical Abstract: Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor Say), a major destructive pest of host wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), causes severe economic losses worldwide. While resistant wheat cultivars are used to mitigate Hessian fly damage, their extensive use can impose selection pressure on the insect population leading to the development of virulent biotypes and consequently, breakdown of plant resistance. Efforts are required to continually identify new sources of resistance that can be deployed and incorporated into breeding programs to alleviate the economic damage caused by this insect pest. In the current study, we evaluated the phenotypic response of 178 Triticum turgidum L. (tetraploid) wheat accessions originating from Asia and Europe to Hessian fly infestation and identified four new sources of resistance in the wheat lines. Further, we demonstrated that the Hessian fly resistance phenotype in these four tetraploid cultivars is temperature sensitive, with breakdown of resistance occurring at elevated temperature. One of the wheat lines showed potential tolerance to Hessian fly infestation at higher temperatures offering a source of more durable resistance.