Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

September 19, 2006 8:05 AM  Chair Do Mornhinweg, called the meeting to order and began the meeting with a round of introductions by those in attendance. Do then introduced administrative co-advisor Tom Holtzer to address the group. 8:30 AM  Presentations Progress toward understanding Hessian fly biotypes. Jeff Stuart, Purdue University, (in cooperation with Ming Shun-Chen, Sue Cambron, Rajat Aggarwal, and Thiago Benatti) Increasing penetration of host plant resistance to insect pest in wheat cultivars: What breeders want. Ming Chen, Kansas State University. Distribution of Russian wheat aphid biotypes in the Rocky Mountain region. Gary Puterka, USDA-ARS Stillwater, OK. 10:10 AM  State Reports -- Verbal reports were given by representatives from each state summarizing their written reports of recent insect activity and research results: Colorado  Frank Peairs Idaho  Juan Manuel Alvarez Kansas  Mike Smith (Phil Sloderbeck, JP Michaud and John Reese) Montana  Sue Blodgett Nebraska- Gary Hein North Dakota  Marion Harris Oklahoma  Tom Royer Texas  Roxanne Bowling (Yiqun Weng and Jerry Michels) USDA  Gary Puterka Washington  Steve Ullrich 11:55 AM  Break for Lunch 1:30 PM  Group Discussion on biotype monitoring, biotype screening, host plant resistance. 3:20 PM  Meeting of the Greenbug Consortium. September 20, 2006 8:30 AM  The group reconvened with a short discussion on the future of subcommittees for the WERA066 meetings. Do announced that there was a proposal to have the next WERA066 meeting in conjunction with the International Plant Resistance to Insects meeting to be held in Fort Collins Colorado in February of 2008. Motion was made and passed to hold the next WERA066 meeting in conjunction with the IPRI meeting. It was decided to have a whole day meeting on February 13, 2008 with a business meeting, state reports and a topic of general interest to the group. In addition WERA066 members will develop a symposium for the IPRI meeting for the afternoon of the 12th. The next item of business was to elect the next secretary/chair of the group and Tom was elected to be the next secretary/chair of WERA066. Do thanked the local arrangement committee of John Reese and Mike Smith and adjourned the meeting at 9:10 AM.

Accomplishments: (Select Brief Statements from state reports) COLORADO Lines with multiple resistance genes were included again in preliminary yield tests. New genes are being combined and backcrossed with adapted wheat cultivars. Efforts continue to incorporate RWA resistance from goatgrass, rye and triticale into bread wheats. Resistant feed barley varieties were tested on-farm in 2006. Stoneham is resistant to known RWA biotypes and performed better than Otis, its recurrent parent, under very dry conditions. Surveys were conducted to determine the presence of Dn4-virulent Russian wheat aphids. 4/110 (3.6%) samples processed to date were categorized as RWA-1, compared to 22/124 (17.7%) in 2005. No virulence to 94M370 or 2414-11 was detected. Screening of 12,000 new accessions from the national collection was completed. Roughly 300 were identified as having useful resistance to both RWA-1 and RWA-2. Dryland cropping systems studies are ongoing at three locations in eastern Colorado. Stoneham, a RWA-resistant feed barley, has been added to some rotations. Generally, rotations have been modified to incorporate more forages, and sunflower has been eliminated. Aphid flights were monitored at four locations by means of suction traps. Nine foliar insecticide treatments were compared to commercial standard insecticide treatments for control of Russian wheat aphid in winter wheat. None were superior to what is currently available to Colorado wheat producers. Methomyl was compared to chlorpyrifos and lambda-cyhalothrin for control of Russian wheat aphid in spring barley. Two applications of methomyl performed as well as the chlorpyrifos treatment, providing barley producers with another potential control option. IDAHO Suction trap network was established to monitor cereal aphid populations. The purpose these traps is to provide timely information to potato and cereal producers about risks of aphid pests and virus epidemics and to compare aphid composition and phenologies across suction trap localities. Immigration bioassays were performed to assess responses of Rhopalosiphum padi to Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV)-induced volatiles during disease progression in wheat plants. Data are still being analyzed, but initial results suggest attraction rather than arrestment might be involved in the aphid response to virus-infected plants. ILLINOIS A suction trap network was set up in Illinois in 2001 to monitor movement and relative abundance of the soybean aphid. In 2005 and 2006 it was expanded and this Midwest suction trap network now has 40 traps located in 10 states. Although the trap was set up to document the relative abundance and flight phenology of the soybean aphid, identifications are provided for the common aphids of economic interest and all others that can be determined accurately in alcohol at dissecting scope magnification. It is our goal to soon have a web page dedicated for the deposition of this weekly data for some of these cereal aphid species such as R. padi and R. maidis. KANSAS Differential gene expression in D. noxia biotype 1-resistant wheat plants containing the Dnx gene and D. noxia biotype 1 feeding on Dnx plants was investigated using suppressive subtraction hybridization. The performance of biotype 2 was compared with that of biotype 1 on eight wheat cultivars at two constant temperatures and the plants evaluated for overall damage and leaf rolling. Colonies of biotype 2 grew an average of 2.3 and 24.9 times faster in the first and second generation, respectively, than did their biotype 1 counterparts at 20 °C, reaching 80-125 aphids per plant after 20 days, compared to 10-31. Susceptible and resistance wheat cultivars, Triticum aestivum L, were presented to two biotypes of Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), in multiple choice tests to assay their relative acceptability as host plants. Identified resistance to biotype 2 Russian wheat aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) in two wheat lines. CI 2401 is a pure wheat line originating in the former USSR (Tajikistan), whereas 03GD1378027 is a USDA-ARS breeding line originally developed from crosses with a South African line that carried a large rye translocation conferring D. noxia resistance. Oviposition decisions by Hippodamia convergens Guerin were examined in semi-natural arenas in the laboratory and it was concluded that H. convergens oviposition decisions are shaped by the risks of both cannibalism and egg predation. Documented that the induction of reproductive diapause in Hippodamia convergens (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) hinges on prey quality and availability. Changes in fitness parameters as a function of colony size (one vs. ten aphids) were measured in two biotypes (RWA1 and RWA2) of the Russian wheat aphid. Fitness of D. noxia was found to be positively correlated with group size during colony establishment, but the effects were sensitive to temperature, being more pronounced at 20 °C for RWA1 and at 24 °C for RWA2. Reproductive diapause in Hippodamia convergens (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and its life history consequences were investigated. The costs of reproductive diapause were evident as an increased risk of mortality prior to oviposition and declining fecundity and fertility with age. Our results suggest a variable number of overlapping generations can occur annually in western Kansas, potentially as many as five. Determined that at the onset of D. noxia biotype 1- Dnx plant interactions, aphid feeding results in the altered activation of peroxidases, intercellular chitinases, b-1,3-glucanases involved in the plant cell wall oligosaccharide release and sequences similar to Pto and Pti1 - genes involved in gene-for-gene recognition of and resistance to bacterial speck disease in tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum (L.). Determined that biotype 2 Russian wheat aphids are now present in Western Kansas. Registered seven Russian wheat aphid resistant near isogenic lines developed in South Africa. Categorized the resistance to D. noxia biotype 2, identified in a selection from wheat cereal introduction (CItr) 2401. Studied the inheritance of new greenbug resistance genes in A. tauschii germplasm. Determined the categories of resistance to greenbug biotype K in Aegilops tauschii wheat lines. Evaluated seed treatments (Cruiser and Gaucho) for their effect on Hessian fly, Russian wheat aphid, greenbugs and bird cherry oat aphid. MONTANA Haanchen mealybug (Trionymus haancheni McKenzie): Haanchen mealybug was verified for the first time this year from Teton County in June 2006. Foliar insecticides were tested for Haanchen mealybug efficacy. The orange wheat blossom midge (OWBM) was detected in northwestern Montana (Flathead County) at high population levels (100% crop loss). Hessian fly/Jointworm evaluations were conducted in August of 2005 on twenty spring wheat varieties and lines. NEBRASKA Evaluated diversified cropping systems incorporating aphid-resistant cultivars compared to the wheat-fallow systems with regard to economic, agronomic, and pest management parameters. Established demonstration trials of new resistant barely varieties. Starting a new project to determine the cost and benefits of two new RWA resistant barley varieties (Stoneham and Sidney) compared to existing production varieties and aphid management strategies. NORTH DAKOTA Tested a 5-component blend in semi-field conditions and believe that this five-component blend will be useful for monitoring Hessian fly in the field. Collaborating with Ming-shun Chen (USDA-ARS, Manhattan) and Jeff Stuart (Purdue) and studying mechanisms of Hessian fly virulence and mechanisms of R-gene-mediated resistance to Hessian fly. We have established that virulent Hessian fly larvae establish a gall-like nutritive tissue at the base of the plant. We believe that this tissue acts like a nutrient sink and is the cause of the growth deficits associated with Hessian fly attack. This gall-like tissue is absent from plants with an effective R gene but is present when a defeated R gene plant is attacked by virulent larvae. Experimental insecticides were evaluated for their efficacy at controlling aphids and protecting wheat, cultivar Alsen. Continuing research to construct a high resolution map of H26 for map-based cloning, to develop user-friendly molecular markers for marker-assisted selection in breeding, and to determine the physical and genetic relationships of H24, H26, and H32. OKLAHOMA Field and laboratory studies are nearly finished to evaluate the pest potential of Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominalis Sasaki in winter wheat. Sampling data demonstrated that the aphid is present throughout the Oklahoma, but has little to no impact on wheat forage and grain yields. Studies have been initiated to examine the colonizing ability of Carabidae into tilled and no-till fields. Conducted field evaluations of variety and insecticidal seed treatments for Hessian Fly management. Continued studies examining the management characteristics of wheat producers throughout the central plains. Continued research to develop a predictive model for the predatory impact of Coccinellidae on the greenbug. In conjunction with collaborators from the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and SST Development Group Inc. we are developing remote sensing technology to detect and monitor greenbug infestations in winter wheat. Approximately 370 RWA clones we collected from 70 sites in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming in 2005 to study the distribution of Russian wheat aphid biotypes. Results of the survey indicate that RWA2 is now present in significant levels in the wheat and barley growing regions RWA infests. Tests were conducted on the genetic variation of Russian wheat aphid biotypes. Biotypic diversity of the greenbug, was assessed among populations collected from cultivated wheat and sorghum, and their associated noncultivated grass hosts. Stoneham and Sidney, RWA-resistant, drought hardy, 2-rowed, spring barley cultivars, were released jointly by USDA-ARS, Stillwater, OK, USDA-ARS, Aberdeen, ID, Colorado State University, and University of Nebraska. SOUTH DAKOTA The effects of planting date on infestations of cereal aphids and other insects in winter wheat was determined at 2 sites in South Dakota over 3 years. Planting on Sep. 20 or later decreased damage from chewing insects, the abundance of cereal aphids, and resulting incidence of Barley yellow dwarf virus in wheat. Moderate levels of resistance to this aphid were found in several lines of triticale and low levels of resistance in two wheat accessions. Follow-up studies with triticale accessions are in progress. Studies continue on the host suitability, rearing, and economic impact of the rice root aphid, Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominalis, on small grains. Surveys show that Adalia bipunctata and Coccinella transversoguttata richardsoni remain rare and Coccinella novemnotata continues to be absent from the area. TEXAS Work continues on the use of remote sensing of aphid populations on small grains. WASHINGTON Work continues on breeding for resistance to Russian wheat aphid and Hessian fly in barley germplasm adapted to the Pacific Northwest in general and specifically to dryland eastern Washington.

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