Chinch bug-resistant buffalograss: an investigation of tolerance, antixenosis, and antibiosis

Choice and no-choice studies were conducted to determine the categories (antibiosis, antixenosis, and tolerance) of resistance of four buffalograsses (NE91-118, 'Bonnie Brae', 'Cody', and 'Tatanka') previously identified as resistant to the western chinch bug, Blissus occiduus Barber. Antibiosis studies found no significant differences in western chinch bug fecundity, nymphal development, or survival among the resistant and susceptible buffalograsses. Tolerance studies indicated that NE91-118, Cody, and Tatanka exhibited moderate-to-high levels of tolerance based on western chinch bug damage ratings and plant height, whereas Bonnie Brae exhibited moderate-to-low levels of tolerance. Choice studies indicated the presence of antixenosis in NE91-118, whereas Cody and Tatanka showed little or no antixenosis. Scanning electron microscopy was used to disclose morphological differences between NE91-118 (resistant) and '378' (susceptible). The epicuticular wax structures and trichome densities were similar between 378 and NE91-118, suggesting that morphological structures do not contribute to NE91-118 antixenosis.     

Levels of tolerance, antibiosis, and antixenosis among resistant buffalograsses and zoysiagrasses

The western chinch bug, Blissus occiduus Barber, has been documented as one of the most serious pests of buffalograss, Buchlo? dactyloides (Nuttall) Engelmann, and zoysiagrass, Zoysia japonica Steudel, grown for turf in midwestern states. Resistance to the western chinch bug has been identified in both buffalograsses and zoysiagrasses. Choice and no-choice studies were conducted to determine the categories (antibiosis, antixenosis, and tolerance) of three resistant buffalograsses (PX3-5-1', 196', and 184') and three resistant zoysiagrasses (El Toro, Emerald, and Zorro). Antibiosis studies found no significant differences in survival, nymphal development, or fecundity among the resistant and susceptible buffalograsses or zoysiagrasses, indicating that antibiosis is not an important factor in the resistance. Based on chinch bug damage ratings, 184, 196, and PX3-5-1 have comparable levels of tolerance to the known tolerant buffalograss 'Prestige', and Zorro was the most tolerant zoysiagrass. Choice studies indicated the presence of antixenosis in the buffalograss selection 196 and the zoysiagrass Emerald.     

Evaluation of cool- and warm-season grasses for resistance to multiple chinch bug (Hemiptera: Blissidae) species

Chinch bugs are common pests of many agronomic and horticulturally important crops and turfgrasses. The extensive overlap of plant hosts and geographic distribution of Blissus leucopterus leucopterus (Say), Blissus leucopterus hirtus Montandon, Blissus insularis Barber, and Blissus occiduus Barber underscores the importance of identifying resistant germplasm. Cool- and warm-season turfgrasses and sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, were evaluated for resistance to chinch bugs in the Blissus complex, and the presence of multiple resistance was documented. Greenhouse studies established that B. occiduus-resistant ('Prestige', formerly NE91-118) and -susceptible ('378') buffalograsses,, Buchlo? dactyloides (Nuttall) Engelmann, were susceptible to all other chinch bug species. KS94 sorghum exhibited resistance to both B. occiduus and B. l. leucopterus, whereas B. insularis-resistant St. Augustinegrass, Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze ('Floratam'), was also resistant to B. occiduus. B. l. leucopterus-susceptible sorghum ('Wheatland') and B. insularis-susceptible St. Augustinegrasses ('Raleigh' and 'Amerishade') were highly resistant to B. occiduus. Endophyte-free and -enhanced fine fescues (Festuca spp.) were moderately to highly susceptible to B. l. hirtus but moderately to highly resistant to B. occiduus. The results of this research showed the buffalograsses evaluated, including B. occiduus-resistant Prestige, are moderately to highly susceptible to the three other chinch bug species. In contrast, B. occiduus did not cause considerable damage to any of the turfgrasses or sorghum cultivars evaluated, other than buffalograss, irrespective of whether or not they are resistant to another chinch bug species. This information is increasingly important as various grasses become adapted to regions that may possess chinch bug species other than those with which they are typically associated. These levels of Blissus resistance should be included when selecting resistant germplasm for managing Blissus species pests.     

Buffalograss germplasm resistance to Blissus occiduus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)

Plant germplasm collections may offer genetic variability useful in identifying insect resistance. The goal of this project was to evaluate buffalograss genotypes [Buchlo? dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.] for resistance to the chinch bug, Blissus occiduus Barber (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae), and to relate resistance to ploidy level, chinch bug number, and pubescence. Forty-eight buffalograss genotypes from diverse geographic locations were evaluated in replicated studies under greenhouse conditions. Of the genotypes studied, four were highly resistant, 22 were moderately resistant, 19 were moderately susceptible, and three were highly susceptible to chinch bug damage. The mean number of chinch bugs was significantly different among the 48 genotypes. There was no significant correlation between chinch bug resistance and ploidy level or chinch bug resistance and pubescence. These results indicate the genetic source of resistance to chinch bugs exists in buffalograss germplasm. Highly resistant genotypes can be used in breeding programs to further improve buffalograss cultivars.     

Evaluation of buffalograss genotypes and full-sibs for chinch bug resistance

Fifteen buffalograss, Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm, genotypes and 94 diploid full-sib progeny were evaluated for western chinch bug, Blissus occiduus Barber (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae), resistance in two separate studies. The experimental design for each study was a completely randomized design. Adult chinch bugs were introduced onto caged single clone genotypes and progeny in the greenhouse. Chinch bug damage was assessed using a 1-5 visual damage rating scale with 1 = < or = 10%; 2 = 11-30%; 3 = 31-50%; 4 = 51-70%; and 5 = > or = 70% of the buffalograss leaf area with severe discoloration, or dead tissue. Highly significant differences were found among the genotypes and progeny for chinch bug damage. Among the genotypes, Legacy, Prestige, 184, 196, Bowie, NE 3297, NE 2769, and NE 2768 were moderately resistant with damage ratings of > 1, but < 3, while NE 2990, NE 2838, and 1-57-19 were moderately susceptible with damage ratings of > or = 3, but < 4. Among the progeny, one progeny (MP45) was highly resistant with a chinch bug damage rating of 1.0, 78 progeny (83%) had moderate resistance, with damage ratings of > 1.0 and < 3.0, 13 progeny (14%) were moderately susceptible with damage ratings ranging from 3.0 to 3.9, while only two were highly susceptible with damage ratings of > or = 4.0. The significant variability among genotypes and progeny for chinch bug resistance indicates the ability to improve buffalograss resistance to chinch bugs through selection or hybridization of selected genotypes.     

Evaluation of buffalograss germplasm for resistance to Blissus occiduus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)

Blissus occiduus Barber has emerged as an important insect pest of buffalograss, Buchlo? dactyloides (Nuttall) Engelmann, in Nebraska. This research evaluated selected buffalograss germplasm for resistance to B. occiduus. Eleven buffalograss selections were screened for chinch bug resistance in three greenhouse studies and two field evaluations. Based on chinch bug damage, NE91-118, 'Tatanka', 'Bonnie Brae', and 'Cody' were rated highly to moderately resistant. These four buffalograsses exhibited minimal damage, even though all were heavily infested with chinch bugs. NE84-45-3 and '378' were highly susceptible to B. occiduus. Field evaluations confirmed chinch bug resistance ratings under field conditions. NE91-118 displayed high levels of resistance in the field screening evaluations, whereas Cody and Tatanka showed moderate levels of resistance, and 378 was highly susceptible.     

Characterization of peroxidase changes in resistant and susceptible warm-season turfgrasses challenged by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Blissus occiduus</Emphasis>

Peroxidases play an important role in plant stress related interactions. This research assessed the role of peroxidases in the defense response of resistant and susceptible buffalograsses [Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm] and zoysiagrasses (Zoysia japonica Steudel) to the western chinch bug, Blissus occiduus Barber. The objectives were: (1) to assess the relationships among protein content, basal peroxidase levels, chinch bug injury, and ploidy levels of chinch bug-resistant and -susceptible buffalograsses; (2) to compare peroxidase activity levels of resistant and susceptible buffalograsses and zoysiagrasses in response to chinch bug feeding; (3) and to analyze extracted proteins from chinch bug-resistant and -susceptible buffalograsses and zoysiagrasses by native gel electrophoresis to obtain information on the peroxidase profiles. Correlation analyses of 28 buffalograss genotypes with varying levels of chinch bug resistance and ploidy levels indicated that buffalograss total protein content was correlated (r = 0.47, P = 0.01) to chinch bug injury, while basal peroxidase levels was not (r = 0.19, P = 0.29), suggesting that the up-regulation of peroxidases in resistant buffalograsses is a direct response to chinch bug feeding. Three of the four chinch bug-resistant buffalograss genotypes evaluated had higher peroxidase activity in the infested plants compared to control plants. Peroxidase activity levels were similar between infested and control plants of the two highly susceptible buffalograss genotypes. Zoysiagrasses had lower peroxidase activity in general when compared to buffalograss control plants, and only ‘Zorro’ consistently showed higher peroxidase activity in the infested plants. Native gel electrophoresis analysis identified differences in the isozyme profiles of infested and control buffalograsses ‘Prestige’ and 196, and the zoysiagrass ‘Zorro’. Results from this study suggest that peroxidases have the potential to be used as markers for selecting chinch bug resistant turfgrasses, and may help explain how plants defend themselves against biotic stresses, such as chinch bugs.     

Influence of buffalograss management practices on Western chinch bug and its beneficial arthropods

A 2-yr study was conducted to document the influence of selected buffalograss, Buchlo? dactyloides (Nuttall) Engelmann, management practices (three mowing heights and five nitrogen levels) on the seasonal abundance of the western chinch bug, Blissus occiduus Barber (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae), and its beneficial arthropods. Vacuum, pitfall, and sticky traps samples were collected every 14 d from the middle of May through October from western chinch bug-resistant ('Prestige') and -susceptible ('378') buffalograss management plots. In total, 27,374 and 108,908 western chinch bugs were collected in vacuum and pitfall traps, respectively. More than 78% of all western chinch bugs were collected from the highly susceptible buffalograss 378. Significantly more bigeyed bugs (Geocoridae: Geocoris spp.) were collected from the 378 buffalograsss management plots than the Prestige plots. In contrast, buffalograss cultivar had little influence on the abundance of other beneficial arthropods collected. Statistically, western chinch bugs were least abundant at the lowest mowing height (2.5 cm) and increased in abundance with increasing fertility. Numerically, however, differences among management levels on western chinch bug abundance were minimal. Numerous beneficial arthropods were collected from buffalograss management plots, including spiders, predatory ants, ground beetles (Carabidae), rove beetles (Staphylinidae), bigeyed bugs, and several species of hymenopterous parasitoids. In general, beneficial arthropods were essentially unaffected by either mowing height or nitrogen level. Scelionid wasps represented 66.3% of the total parasitoids collected. The total number of scelionid wasps collected among the three mowing heights and five nitrogen levels were approximately equal.     

Resistance of wheat lines to Rhopalosiphum padi (Hemiptera: Aphididae) under laboratory conditions

Bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), a polyphagous species with a nearly worldwide distribution, is an important pest of wheat as well as the main vector of barley yellow dwarf virus. We evaluated the resistance categories of eight wheat lines including antibiosis, antixenosis, and tolerance against R. padi under laboratory conditions. The wheat lines tested were ERWYT 88-8, ERWYT 87-6, and ERWYT 87-4 (resistant); ERWYT 87-1, ERWYT 87-20, and ERWYT 88-11 (susceptible); ERWYT 88-12 and ERWYT 88-13 (intermediate). In the antibiosis experiment, R. padi produced fewest progeny on ERWYT 88-8, ERWYT 87-6, and ERWYT 87-4 in reproduction period. In the antixenosis test, R. padi performed best on ERWYT 87-1, ERWYT 87-20, and ERWYT 88-11. Fewer apterous aphids selected ERWYT 88-8, ERWYT 87-4, and ERWYT 87-6 lines indicating antixenosis of these lines to R. padi. In tolerance experiments, however growth parameters differed between treated and untreated seedlings of wheat lines with 10 aphids per day infestation during 21-d period, but not among eight wheat lines. The plant resistance index values were greatest for ERWYT 88-8 (9.71), followed by ERWYT 87-4 (7.04) and ERWYT 87-6 (4.76). ERWYT 88-8, ERWYT 87-6, and ERWYT 87-4 may be important sources of R. padi resistance for small grain breeding and integrated pest management programs.     

Phenotypic mechanisms of host resistance against greenbug (Homoptera: Aphididae) revealed by near isogenic lines of wheat

Interactions between biotype E greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), and wheat, Triticum aestivum L., were investigated using resistant and susceptible near isogenic lines of the greenbug resistance gene Gb3. In an antixenosis test, the greenbugs preferred susceptible plants to resistant ones when free choice of hosts was allowed. Aphid feeding resulted in quick and severe damage to susceptible plants, which seemed to follow a general pattern spatially and was affected by the position where the greenbugs were initially placed. Symptom of damage in resistant plants resembled senescence. Within-plant distribution of aphids after infestation was clearly different between the two genotypes. Significantly more greenbugs fed on the first (oldest) leaf than on the stem in resistant plants, but this preference was reversed in the susceptible one. After reaching its peak, aphid population on the susceptible plants dropped quickly. All susceptible plants were dead in 10-14 d after infestation due to greenbug feeding. Aphid population dynamics on resistant plants exhibited a multipeak curve. After the first peak, the greenbug population declined slowly. More than 70% of resistant plants were killed 47 d after infestation. Performance of both biotype E and I greenbugs on several Gb3-related wheat germplasm lines were also examined. It seems that the preference-on-stem that was characteristic of biotype E greenbugs on the susceptible plants was aphid biotype- and host genotype-dependent. Results from this study suggested that antixenosis, antibiosis, and tolerance in the resistant plants of wheat might all contribute to resistance against greenbug feeding.     

Hairy chinch bug (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) damage, population density, and movement in relation to the incidence of perennial ryegrass infected by Neotyphodium endophytes

Studies examined hairy chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus hirtus Montandon, damage, population density, and movement in stands of perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L., containing various proportions of endophyte infected plants (E+). Our main objective was to determine the utility of mixtures containing E+ for management of chinch bugs. Chinch bug damage and population density decreased linearly as the proportion of E+ increased. This trend held true even when chinch bug populations were extremely high. Chinch bug nymphs emigrated more quickly from stands containing 100% E+ than they did from stands containing 50 or 0% E+, whereas adult chinch bug emigration was relatively unaffected by the proportion of E+. Our results indicate that turfgrass mixtures containing E+ can reduce chinch bug damage and population density.     

Mechanisms of Oryza sativa (Poaceae) resistance to Tagosodes orizicolus (Homoptera: Delphacidae) under greenhouse condition in Venezuela

Tagosodes orizicolus is one of the main plagues of rice in tropical America causing two types of damages, the direct one, feeding and oviposition effect, and an indirect one, by the transmission of the "Rice hoja blanca virus". During 2006-2007 we carried out research under greenhouse conditions at Fundaci6n Danac, Venezuela, in order to determine the mechanisms of antixenosis, antibiosis and tolerance to T. orizicolus, which could be acting in commercial varieties and advanced lines of the rice genetic breeding programs of INIA and Fundaci6n Danac. The method of free feeding was used for the antixenosis evaluation, whereas the method of forced feeding was used for antibiosis evaluation (effect on survival and oviposition). Additionally, we used the indirect method based on biomass depression to estimate the tolerance. Some of the evaluated traits included: grade of damage, number of insects settling on rice plants, percentage of sogata mortality at the mature state, number of eggs in the leaf midrib and an index of tolerance. The results showed that rice genotypes possess different combinations of resistance mechanisms, as well as different grades of reactions. The susceptible control 'Bluebonnet 50' was consistently susceptible across experiments and the resistant control 'Makalioka' had high antixenosis and high antibiosis based on survival and oviposition. The rest of the genotypes presented lower or higher degrees of antixenosis and antibiosis for survival and oviposition. The genotype 'FD0241-M-17-6-1-1-1-1' was identified with possible tolerance to the direct damage of sogata.     

Chinch bug (Hemiptera: Blissidae) mouthpart morphology, probing frequencies, and locations on resistant and susceptible germplasm

Chinch bugs are common pests of many agronomic and horticulturally important crops and turfgrasses. Previous research has indicated that some grasses exhibit resistance to multiple chinch bug species, whereas others are resistant to only one species. The objectives of this research were to document differences in the probing frequencies and locations among Blissus species as well as differences in mouthpart morphology as a first step in understanding the differential responses of grasses to chinch bug feeding. Scanning electron microscopy detected differences in the total lengths of proboscises as well as individual mouthpart segments among the four species studied. Blissus occiduus Barber probed significantly more often on buffalograss, Buchlo? dactyloides (Nuttall) Engelmann, than any other plant material. Probing locations of B. occiduus and Blissus leucopterus leucopterus (Say) were similar on both B. occiduus-resistant and susceptible buffalograsses and KS94 sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (B. occiduus-resistant, B. l. leucopterus-resistant). However, on 'Wheatland' sorghum (B. occiduus-resistant, B. l. leucopterus-susceptible), stylet tracts of B. l. leucopterus most often terminated in the bundle sheath cells, whereas those of B. occiduus generally terminated in the vascular tissues.     

辽宁水稻品种抗灰飞虱鉴定及其抗性机制研究

为探明辽宁地区水稻品种对本地灰飞虱Laodelphax striatellus(Fallén)的抗性水平及其抗虫机制,本研究利用改进的苗期集团鉴定法,以IR36为抗虫对照品种、武育粳3号为感虫对照品种,对42份辽宁地区主栽水稻品种和研究待推广品种进行了水稻苗期对灰飞虱抗性鉴定,并从中选取20份不同抗性水平的品种进行了排趋性和抗生性的测定。结果表明:从42份水稻材料中仅筛选出1份抗虫材料辽优5218,中抗品种11份,其余均为感虫或高感品种。在不同水稻类型中,杂交稻的抗虫性普遍较常规稻强,而从水稻株型上看,抗性品种大多为披散型。抗虫机制研究发现,抗虫品种辽优5218和中抗品种港育129兼具排趋性和抗生性,是非常理想的抗性种质资源,中抗品种港源8号和粳优558具有很强的排趋性,也是较为理想的抗性资源,为抗性机制的深入研究提供了材料。但大部分省内主栽主推品种不具备对灰飞虱的抗性,应引起重视。     

Characterization of oxidative enzyme changes in buffalograsses challenged by Blissus occiduus

This research investigated the role of oxidative enzymes in the defense response of buffalograss, Buchlo? dactyloides (Nuttall) Engelmann, to Blissus occiduus Barber. Changes in catalase and peroxidase activity were observed in both resistant and susceptible buffalograsses in response to chinch bug feeding. Susceptible plants were shown to have a lower level of catalase activity compared with their respective control plants. By contrast, catalase activities of resistant plants were similar between infested and control buffalograsses throughout the study. Resistant plants had higher levels of peroxidase activity compared with their control plants, whereas peroxidase activities for control and infested susceptible plants remained at similar levels or were slightly lower for infested plants. These findings suggest that chinch bug feeding leads to a loss in catalase activity in susceptible buffalograsses. In contrast, resistant buffalograsses may be able to tolerate chinch bug feeding by increasing their peroxidase activity. Polyphenol oxidase activities were similar between control and infested plants for the buffalograsses evaluated. Among the enzymes examined, no differences in isozyme profiles for peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase were detected between control and infested 378, NE91-118, Cody, and Tatanka plants. Gels stained for catalase identified differences in the isozyme profiles of infested and uninfested 378 plants; however, infested and control NE91-118, Tatanka, and Cody plants has similar isozyme profiles. No differences in protein profiles were observed between chinch buginfested 378, NE91-118, Cody, and Tatanka plants and their respective uninfested controls.     

Parasitism of Hoplolaimus galeatus on Diploid and Polyploid St. Augustine grasses

''Floratam'' and ''FX-313'' St. Augusfinegrasses (Stenotaphrum secundatum) were compared in a time-course experiment for host suitability and susceptibility to the lance nematode, Hoplolaimus galeatus. Nematode densities were determined in the soil and acid-fuchsin stained roots 42, 84, 126, 168, and 210 days after pots containing 230 cm³ of autoclaved native Margate fine sand/pot were infested with 104 ± 9 nematodes and maintained at 25 ± 2 C in the laboratory. ''FX-313'' was a more suitable host for H. galeatus. Numbers of H. galeatus reached a maximum at 210 days after inoculation, with 5,550 and 4,120 nematodes (adults plus juveniles)/pot for ''FX-313'' and ''Floratam,'' respectively. Root and shoot dry weights of both grasses were not affected by H. galeatus throughout the experiment. Three polyploid, 2n = 30 to 32 (''Floratam,'' ''FX-10,'' and ''Bitterblue'') and three diploid, 2n = 18 (''FX-313,'' ''Florida Common,'' and ''Seville'') S. secundatum genotypes were inoculated with H. galeatus (99 ± 9/pot) and compared with uninoculated controls 210 days after inoculation. St. Augustinegrass genotypes differed as hosts of H. galeatus. ''FX-313'' and ''Florida Common'' represented the high and low extremes, respectively, for nematode reproduction (9,750 and 5,490 nematodes/pot or 4,239 and 2,387 nematodes/100 cm³ of soil). However, differences in root and shoot growth were not detected 210 days after inoculation with H. galeatus.     

Electrical penetration graph analysis of the feeding behavior of soybean aphids on soybean cultivars with antibiosis

The soybean aphid, Aphis glycine Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a major pest of soybean. In the current study, we used the Electrical Penetration Graph technique to study feeding behavior of soybean aphids on antibiotic-resistant soybean lines KS1621, KS1613, and KS1642, and a susceptible soybean line, KS4202. We observed that soybean aphids spent significantly shorter periods of time in the sieve element phase but slightly more times in nonprobing phases in all three resistant lines than in the susceptible control. Our study suggests that resistance factors exist in the phloem of the resistant soybean lines, and that these lines may contain antixenosis in addition to antibiosis.     

Lawn parameters influencing abundance and distribution of the hairy chinch bug (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)

Management of lawns that promotes conditions detrimental to the development of insect pests may represent a valuable environmentally benign turfgrass management strategy. In the cool-humid region of Quebec, Canada, we investigated 45 lawns infested with hairy chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus hirtus Montandon, to identify lawn parameters related to its distribution and abundance. Kentucky bluegrass, creeping bentgrass, and perennial ryegrass, respectively, accounted for 55.8, 19.6, and 9.3% of the grass species. Chinch bug population density was associated positively with abundance of perennial ryegrass, whereas it was marginally negatively related with the abundance of creeping bentgrass. An index of the severity of chinch bug infestation was obtained for each lawn by combining estimates of number of infested patches per lawn, average size of the patches, and chinch bug number per patch. The index was associated positively with abundance of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. There was evidence that abundance of creeping bentgrass was associated negatively with the number of infested patches per lawn, area of the patches, and number of chinch bugs within those patches. The number of infested patches increased, whereas patch area and chinch bug number per patch tended to decrease, when broad-leaf weeds were more abundant on a lawn. No significant relationship was found between thatch thickness and patterns of chinch bug abundance and distribution. These results suggest that management of lawns to respectively increase and decrease abundance of creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass could facilitate control of hairy chinch bug populations in cool-humid regions.     

Field screening of experimental corn hybrids and inbred lines for multiple ear-feeding insect resistance

Identifying and using native insect resistance genes is the core of integrated pest management. In this study, 10 experimental corn, Zea mays L., hybrids and 10 inbred lines were screened for resistance to major ear-feeding insects in the southeastern Coastal Plain region of the United States during 2004 and 2005. Ear-feeding insect damage was assessed at harvest by visual damage rating for the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and by the percentage of kernels damaged by the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, and stink bugs [combination of Euschistus servus (Say) and southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.)]. Among the eight inbred lines and two control populations examined, C3S1B73-5b was resistant to corn earworm, maize weevil, and stink bugs. In contrast, C3S1B73-4 was resistant to corn earworm and stink bugs, but not to maize weevil. In a similar manner, the corn hybrid S1W*CML343 was resistant to all three ear-feeding insects, whereas hybrid C3S1B73-3*Tx205 was resistant to corn earworm and maize weevil in both growing seasons, but susceptible to stink bugs in 2005. The silk-feeding bioassay showed that corn earworm developed better on corn silk than did fall armyworm. Among all phenotypic traits examined (i.e., corn ear size, husk extension, and husk tightness), only corn ear size was negatively correlated to corn earworm damage in the inbred lines examined, whereas only husk extension (i.e., coverage) was negatively correlated to both corn earworm and maize weevil damage on the experimental hybrids examined. Such information could be used to establish a baseline for developing agronomically elite corn germplasm that confers multiple ear-feeding insect resistance.     

Influence of three resistance sources in winter wheat derived from TAM 107 on yield response to Russian wheat aphid

A study to determine yield response to the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), was conducted during the 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 growing seasons at three eastern Colorado locations, Akron, Fort Collins, and Lamar, with three wheat lines containing either Russian wheat aphid-resistant Dn4 gene, Dn6 gene, or resistance derived from PI 222668, and TAM 107 as the susceptible control. Russian wheat aphids per tiller were greater on TAM 107 than the resistant wheat lines at the 10x infestation level at Fort Collins and Akron in 1999. Yield, seed weight, and number of seeds per spike for each wheat line were somewhat affected by Russian wheat aphid per tiller mainly at Fort Collins. The infested resistant wheat lines harbored fewer Russian wheat aphids and yielded more than the infested susceptible wheat lines. Wheat lines containing the Dn4, Dn6, and PI 222668 genes contain different levels of antibiosis or antixenosis and tolerance. Although differences existed among sites and resistance, there is a benefit to planting resistant wheat when there is a potential for Russian wheat aphid infestations.