Abstract
Various insect pests attack wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that can cause significant grain yield losses to the crop. Farmers usually depend on pesticides, however, smallholder farmers often have limited and ill-timed access to control methods, including insecticides. Host plant resistance is an alternative to protect grain yield and reduce costs to farmers. Three of the most serious pests of wheat are Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov), Mayetiola destructor (Say), and Cephus pygmeaus L. These pests occur in most of the wheat growing areas. However, they are of high importance in North Africa and West Asia. The aim of this study was to evaluate a set of wheat—alien translocations for resistance against D. noxia, M. destructor and C. pygmeaus. Genotypes of this germplasm set have already been reported to carry resistance against certain wheat aphid species. Genotypes 1RSam.1AL and MA1S.1RLe(1B), displayed high levels of resistance against D. noxia and C. pygmeaus, respectively. While three genotypes showed resistance reaction against M. destructor: 1Re(1D), 7A.7S-L5, and 7A.7S-Gb5. Except for the resistant genotype to C. pygmeaus, the other four genotypes were previously reported to carry resistance against Sitobion avenae Fabricius, Rhopalosiphum padi L. and Schizaphis graminum (Rondani). These five wheat—alien translocations are currently being used in the bread-wheat breeding programs at CIMMYT and ICARDA to transfer the multiple pest resistance in elite germplasm.
Highlights
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) is a staple food globally, which provides about 20% of energy intake in the human diet (FAO 2018)
Page 2 of 7 various insect pests that can feed on wheat, among those that are highly important for the International
1993, 1997, 2000, 2006; Dubcovsky et al 1998). This material was selected because it displayed variation of the resistance against other important pests of wheat, further description of the germplasm can be found in the work conducted by Crespo-Herrera et al (2013)
Summary
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) is a staple food globally, which provides about 20% of energy intake in the human diet (FAO 2018). Wheat production faces several challenges in a global scenario where climate change threatens productivity and higher food demand requires to increase average yields. One of the effects of climate change is a higher incidence of pests, as with an increased temperature multivoltine species can speed up their development causing an increased number of generations per year, and potentially more damage to crops. It can reduce yield up to 40% at an initial density of 15 aphids (Kieckhefer and Gellner 1992). This aphid species injects a toxin into plants while feeding, causing a characteristic leaf rolling, which functions as a protection site for the colony. When the flag leaves are infested and rolled, the heads are trapped and cannot emerge freely causing them to bend, the leaves get white, purple and yellow streaks
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