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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » Crop Production and Pest Control Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #409073
Research Project: Genetic and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Plant-Insect Interactions in Cereal Crops

Location: Crop Production and Pest Control Research

Title: Hessian fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) virulence in Louisiana: assessment of field populations from 2023 to efficacy of 27 Hessian fly resistance genes in wheat

Author
item Schemerhorn, Brandi
item Cambron, Sue
item Subramanyam, Subhashree

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/9/2023
Publication Date: 1/22/2024
Citation: Schemerhorn, B.J., Cambron, S.E., Subramanyam, S.N. 2024. Hessian fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) virulence in Louisiana: assessment of field populations from 2023 to efficacy of 27 Hessian fly resistance genes in wheat. Journal of Economic Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toae002.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toae002

Interpretive Summary: Hessian fly is one of the most important insect pests of wheat worldwide. Using resistance genes in wheat is the primary means of controlling the fly. The use of the resistance genes against the fly makes them evolve overcoming the resistance genes in a relatively short period of time, creating an arms race between breeders and scientists vs. the Hessian fly. This study looks at the changes in Hessian fly virulence to twenty-three resistance genes available to breeders or are already commercially available. We have determined which genes are still effective against the fly in parts of Louisiana, as well as the resistance genes that are no longer effective or whose effectiveness is waning.

Technical Abstract: The Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor, (Say) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is the most important insect pest plaguing wheat producers across the United States and in all wheat producing areas of the world. Genetic resistance is the stalwart for control of Hessian fly. However, new genotypes (biotypes) arise in deployment of wheat containing resistance genes, so field populations must be evaluated to provide information on the efficacy of those deployed genes. Louisiana, with its diverse agricultural landscape, is not exempt from the challenges posed by this destructive pest. In 2010, we screened Hessian fly populations collected in 2008 from across the southeastern US, including Louisiana. In the spring of 2023, flax (pupal stage of Hessian fly) were collected from Iberville Parish and compared with previously screened collections from this area utilizing 23 resistant wheat lines. Only eleven of the lines (H12, H13, H16, H17, H18, H22, H25, H26, H28, H31 and H32) are effective against Hessian fly in this area. Despite 11 lines being effective against control of Hessian fly, four previously assayed lines (H9, H11), H21 and H23) have all shown a marked decrease in efficacy in the past 15 years.