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Title: BENEFITS OF MANAGING SMALL GRAIN PESTS WITH PLANT RESISTANCE

Author
item Webster, James
item KENKEL, PHIL - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Thomas Say Publications in Entomology
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The U.S. small grain industry is a vital aspect of the nation's economy. Over half of the U.S. wheat crop is exported, an important factor in reducing the nation's balance of payments. However, insects and mites cause an estimated loss of 6% of the total value of the U.S. wheat crop annually. Annual loss figures of 5 or 6% seem small, but these translate into several lmillion metric tons when projected on a national or global basis. These losses are excessive if world food production needs to be increased during the next century to feed an increasing population. Some small grain pests can be managed by chemical pesticides, but there are often serious economic and environmental consequences associated with this practice. USDA, EPA, and FDA have made a commitment to develop and have implemented IPM systems on 75% of the total crop acreage by the year 2000. The ideal method of managing small grain pests is through the use of resistant varieties. Some small grain pests are already managed this way, while varieties with resistance to other pests will be available in the future. Information on the status of plant resistance in small grains is out of date. Considerable research has been done to obtain and synthesize new information about the current status and value of managing small grain pests with resistant varieties. For example, the primary method of managing wheat pests such as the Hessian fly, the wheat stem sawfly, and the wheat curl mite (which transmits wheat streak mosaic disease) is by planting resistant varieties. New information about the status and value of plant resistance to these and other pests is presented in this paper.

Technical Abstract: The production of small grains in the United States is an important aspect of the nation's economy. However, several insect and mite pests attack small grain plants in the field, causing serious losses in grain yield and quality. Some of these pests can be controlled by chemical pesticides, but there are often serious economic and environmental consequences associated with this practice. The ideal method of managing small grain pests is through the use of resistant varieties. Some small grain pests are already managed this way, while cultivars resistant to other pests will be available in the future. The benefits of managing small grain pests with resistant cultivars are tremendous. In this paper, we discuss the current and potential benefits of managing six arthropod pests of small grains with resistant cultivars.