Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Southern Insect Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #403186
Research Project: Ecologically Sustainable Approaches to Insect Resistance Management in Bt Cotton

Location: Southern Insect Management Research

Title: Host plant resistance to insect pests in wheat

Author
item SHARMA, ANAMIKA - Florida A & M University
item MENDU, VENUGOPAL - Montana State University
item Reddy, Gadi V.P.

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/8/2024
Publication Date: 2/10/2024
Citation: Sharma, A., Mendu, V., Reddy, G.V. 2024. Host plant resistance to insect pests in wheat. Book Chapter. 1:123-140. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-7520-4_5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-7520-4_5

Interpretive Summary: Wheat host plant resistance plays a key role in arthropod pest management by reducing pest damage and using chemical insecticides. The use of resistant wheat varieties can lead to significant reductions in pest populations and damage to crops, which in turn can lead to higher yields and greater profitability for farmers. Current advances in wheat functional genomics, metabolomics, and genome editing could provide methods for the identification and rapid introgression of desirable traits. The authors believe that developing new varieties is an effective strategy to manage wheat pests; however, better incorporation of resistant varieties into integrated pest management programs is needed. Combining resistant traits for biotic and abiotic factors, including insect pests, diseases, and drought, in one variety could enable better management and help avoid the failure of a variety that is effective against one, but not another, type of stress.

Technical Abstract: Host plant resistance offers an excellent solution to pest problems which reduces pesticide usage and environmental production. Host plant resistance to insect pests in wheat has enabled the management of major insect pests including Mayetiola destructor, Cephus cinctus, Diuraphis noxia, Schizaphis graminum, and Rhopalosiphum padi. The major sources of genetic diversity for pest resistance in wheat have been landraces cultivars of wheat and wild relatives. Several resistance genes have been identified and are incorporated into cultivated wheat (especially in Triticum aestivum). Nevertheless, scanty information is available about resistance to other economically important pests such as Sitodiplosis mosellana and Oulema melanopus. A coherent program to incorporate resistant varieties in the integrated pest management (IPM) of wheat pests is needed to better protect the crop and improve crop yields.