Triticum monococcum subsp. monococcum and aegilopoides: new sources of resistance to the dipteran pest, Hessian fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

Authors: LIU, AIFENG - North Dakota State University; Nemacheck, Jill; LEI, HONGWEI - North Dakota State University; ANDERSON, KIRK - North Dakota State University; DEWITT, NOAH - Louisiana State University; HARRIS, NOAH - North Dakota State University; Xu, Steven; Subramanyam, Subhashree

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/17/2024
Publication Date: 10/14/2024
Citation: Liu, A., Nemacheck, J.A., Lei, H., Anderson, K., Dewitt, N., Harris, N., Xu, S.S., Subramanyam, S.N. 2024. Triticum monococcum subsp. monococcum and aegilopoides: new sources of resistance to the dipteran pest, Hessian fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toae233.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toae233

Interpretive Summary: The Hessian fly is a major pest of bread and pasta wheat causing severe economic losses for wheat growers in the US, as well as in several of the world’s other major cereal-growing regions. Planting resistant wheat plants that contain resistance to Hessian fly is the most economical and environmentally-friendly pest management strategy. Unfortunately, the evolution of virulence in Hessian fly field populations over time threatens the breakdown of plant resistance. Continued research efforts exploring wheat collections for lines that exhibit resistance to Hessian fly are required to add to the available resources. In this study, we have identified nine Hessian fly-resistant einkorn wheat lines that offer additional novel and valuable resources for wheat growers and breeders.

Technical Abstract: The Hessian fly (Hf), Mayetiola destructor (Say), is an important pest of host wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) causing significant economic losses. Although planting resistant wheat cultivars harboring an effective Hf resistance gene (H) is the most economical and environmentally-friendly pest management strategy, it imposes selection pressure on the Hf populations and can lead to the evolution of Hf virulence. This results in the eventual failure of the deployed H gene. New sources and novel types of resistance are urgently needed to expand the repertoire of H genes in order to enable strategies that are more effective and durable over the long-term. New sources of Hf resistance have been identified from tetraploid (T. turgidum, AABB) and hexaploid (T. aestivum, AABBDD) wheat species, as well as from wheat’s D-genome donor (Aegilops tauschii, DD). In contrast, diploid einkorn wheat (T. monococcum, AA), has not been extensively explored for Hf resistance. In this study, we phenotyped 506 T. monococcum accessions belonging to two subspecies, T. monococcum subsp. monococcum (205 accessions) and T. monococcum subsp. aegilopoides (301 accessions), for resistance against two predominant Hf biotypes, L and GP (Great Plains). Three and six accessions belonging to subsp. monococcum and aegilopoides, respectively, showed >70% resistance. These accessions provide additional resources for improving wheat cultivars as mitigating strategies for Hf management.