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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Insect Control and Cotton Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #410800
Research Project: Novel Approaches for Management of Row Crop Pests and Continued Boll Weevil Eradication

Location: Insect Control and Cotton Disease Research

Title: Choice and no-choice feeding assays of cotton fleahoppers (Pseudatomoscelis seriatus) on cotton expressing Mpp51Aa2 protein

Author
item ARTHUR, BRADY - Texas A&M University
item Suh, Charles
item MCKNIGHT, BENJAMIN - Texas A&M University
item PARAJULEE, MEGHA - Texas A&M University
item YANG, FEI - Texas A&M University
item KERNS, DAVID - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/28/2023
Publication Date: 12/29/2023
Citation: Arthur, B.P., Suh, C.P., McKnight, B.M., Parajulee, M.N., Yang, F., Kerns, D.L. 2023. Choice and no-choice feeding assays of cotton fleahoppers (Pseudatomoscelis seriatus) on cotton expressing Mpp51Aa2 protein. Agronomy Journal. 14(1). Article 84. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010084.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010084

Interpretive Summary: The cotton fleahopper is considered one of the most damaging insect pests of cotton in Texas and Oklahoma. Current control methods rely heavily on applications of insecticides, but multiple and timely applications are usually required to provide adequate control. Thus, there is a need to identify alternative management strategies for this pest. One possibility may be the use of a genetically modified cotton variety known as ThryvOn, which was initially developed for lygus bugs. Based on laboratory feeding studies, we found that adult and nymph cotton fleahoppers fed less on ThryvOn cotton compared with non-genetically modified control plants. Consequently, ThryvOn plants retained more flower buds compared to control plants. These findings suggest ThryvOn provides protection against cotton fleahoppers that is equivalent to one or two insecticide applications and subsequently, may be a useful tool for managing cotton fleahoppers in cotton.

Technical Abstract: In Texas, the cotton fleahopper (Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter)) is considered a highly economically damaging pest of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Current control methods rely heavily on foliar chemical insecticides throughout the growing season. Considering the cost of insecticides and the critical timeliness of applications, chemical control methods are often not optimized to reduce potential yield losses. The Mpp51Aa2.834_16 gene in cotton (ThryvOn) has shown effectiveness against thrips and several piercing and sucking Mirid insect pests, suggesting it has potential to mitigate yield losses caused by the cotton fleahopper. Choice and no-choice caged feeding assays were conducted to assess the impact of cotton fleahoppers on ThryvOn cotton square retention under controlled laboratory conditions. In the choice assay, feeding by cotton fleahoppers significantly reduced square retention in the non-traited cotton to 46%, while ThryvOn cotton retained 60% of squares. In the no-choice assay, cotton fleahopper nymph feeding significantly reduced square retention in the non-traited cotton to 61%, whereas ThryvOn cotton was unaffected. Based on differences in square retention observed in both the choice and no-choice feeding assays, our findings indicate that the Mpp51Aa2 protein influences cotton fleahopper feeding preference and the susceptibility of cotton plants to damage caused by cotton fleahoppers.