Biotypes of Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say) in the southeastern United States and genetic interactions of Hessian fly biotypes M and L with the wheat cultivar Abe

Chandrasiri Kudagamage, Purdue University

Abstract

Biotype composition of 10 field populations of Hessian fly from the southeastern United States were evaluated in the laboratory. Biotypes G, J, L, M, and O not previously reported from these areas werre identified. Wheat cultivars having H7H8, H9H10 and H14H15 were found to be resistant to the Hessian fly samples from Spalding Co., Georgia and Tuscaloosa Co., Alabama. A bi-directional selection experiment was conducted to determine the genetic response of a laboratory population of biotype L larvae to survive with or without stunting the 'Abe' wheat having the H5 gene for resistance. One generation of selection in the original population of biotype L resulted in two populations having either a higher proportion of larvae capable of stunting the host plant, or a higher proportion of larvae capable of surviving without stunting than the original population. It is possible that the ability of Hessian fly to survive on Abe wheat with or without stunting the plants is controlled by independent major genes. At 20 $\pm$ 1$\sp\circ$C only 37% of the Abe wheat plants were resistant to virulent larvae which had been selected by the single egg technique. Hence, the survival of avirulent larvae in association with virulent larvae was not responsible for the lack of response when selecting biotype L for virulence on Abe wheat. The genetic nature of the ability of Hessian fly biotype M to survive on wheat cultivar Abe was studied in F1, F2 and backcrosses between biotype E and biotype M. The genetic ratios of the biotype E x biotype M, cross between the F1s EM x ME, and the back cross MM x ME showed that the ability of Hessian fly biotype M to survive on Abe wheat was under single gene inheritance with the paternally derived chromosome loss in the male. However, the survival rate of progenies of MM x EE and ME x ME crosses were higher and can not be explained by the hypothesis mentioned above. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Foster, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Entomology

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