ITEMS FROM SPAIN

UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE MADRID
Departamento de Biotecnologia, E.T.S. Ing. Agronomos.- C. Universitaria, 28040, Madrid, Spain.

A. Delibes, I. López-Braña, S. Moreno-Vázquez, and E. Simonetti.

UNIVERSITY OF LLEIDA

Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentaries (UdL-IRTA).
Rovira Roure, 191-25198 Lleida, Spain.

J. A. Martín-Sánchez, G. Briceño-Félix, E. Sin, C. Martínez, A. Michelena, and L. Torres.

CONSEJERÍA DE INFRAESTRUCTURAS Y DESARROLLO TECNOLÓGICO

SIDT (Servicio de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico). Ap. 22. CP 06080 Badajoz. Spain.

J. Del Moral de la Vega and F. Pérez Rojas.

CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS
Serrano, 115, 28006, Madrid, Spain.

D. Romero and M.F. Andrés.

Characterization of the Hessian fly biotype present in southwestern Spain. [p. 87-89]

Hessian fly is a major pest of wheat worldwide and also an endemic pest in southwestern Spain. Two generations per year occur in infested fields in this area (Delibes et al. 1997). The most practical way of Hessian fly control remains the development of resistant cultivars. The biological interaction between Triticum spp. and Hessian fly is highly specific, with a gene-for-gene relationship between resistance genes in wheat and avirulence genes in the insect (Hatchett and Gallum 1970). Wheat resistance to M. destructor attack is conditioned mostly by dominant alleles at single loci (H genes). Virulence against each resistance wheat allele is determined by recessive alleles at a single locus in M. destructor (vH^a genes). To date, 33 resistance genes have been identified (H1­H32 and Hdic) (Liu et al. 2005). In the U.S., 16 biotypes (designated Great Plains and biotypes A­O) have been isolated from field populations. Biotypes were defined by their response (virulence or avirulence) to four common wheat cultivars carrying the H3, H5, H6, or H7H8 resistance genes (Gallum 1977). Insect biotypes occur in nature as a result of selection from the population in response to exposure to resistant cultivars. However, Hessian fly virulence has been confirmed to some resistance genes that have not been deployed in wheat cultivars in the U.S. (Ratcliffe et al. 1994). Therefore, testing the available genes against as many biotypes and current populations of Hessian fly as possible is necessary, which would prevent the release of wheat cultivars with ineffective sources of resistance. The main objective of this research was to determine the biotype of Hessian fly prevalent in southwestern Spain and to test the effectiveness of resistant wheat cultivar carrying different H genes (H3, H5 to H15, H18, H21, and H24) against this population.

Material and methods. In order to determine the biotype of Hessian fly, four differential cultivars (Monon (H3), Abe (H5), Caldwell (H6), and Seneca (H7H8)) were evaluated for resistance four consecutive years at Azuaga (38°15' N; 5°40' W) and, in the last season also at La Granjuela (38°22'N; 5°21'W). Additionally, they were evaluated for two consecutive years in greenhouse under controlled conditions. We also tested a series of wheat cultivars carrying H genes from the Uniform Hessian fly Nursery (UHFN) under the same conditions. Dr. H.E. Bockelman and F. Maas from the National Small Grains Collection of USDA-ARS supplied this collection. The wheat cultivars Newton and Astral were used as susceptible controls.

Each experiment was completely randomized with three replications, and 30 seeds were sown per cultivar and test. In the greenhouse, plants were infested with a fly population collected on the susceptible cultivar Astral during the biotypes (Ratcliffe et al. 1996). Thereby, populations of flies are heterogeneous in biotype composition, but a single virulent biotype usually is prevalent and corresponds with the predominant resistance genes deployed in the region (Ratcliffe et al. 1996, 2000; Naber et al. 2003; Bouktila et al. 2005).

Results and conclusions. The response of wheat cultivars with different H genes and the susceptible control (Astral) to the population of Hessian fly from southwestern Spain is summarized in Figure 1. The four differential cultivars Monon (H3), Abe (H5), Caldwell (H6), and Seneca (H7H8) were resistant to Hessian fly population in all the conditions evaluated, but there was some variability in infestation across years. These results suggest that biotype GP, nonvirulent to any resistance gene, is the prevalent biotype in southwestern Spain, but we cannot discard the presence of other biotypes. In the state of Washington, U.S., where Hessian fly resistance genes are not yet deployed, biotype GP also is the most prevalent, but it coexists with other biotypes (Ratcliffe et al. 1996). Thereby, populations of flies are heterogeneous in biotype composition, but a single virulent biotype usually is prevalent and corresponds with the predominant resistance genes deployed in the region (Ratcliffe et al. 1996, 2000; Naber et al. 2003; Bouktila et al. 2005).

The level of virulence to H5, H11, H13, H14, H15, H21, and H24 genes was low at all conditions. Most of the wheat with H9, H10, or H12 had high infestation levels. Genes H3, H6, H7H8, and H18 genes showed different resistance levels depending on the genetic background. Cultivar response was similar in both greenhouse and field conditions but was higher in the greenhouse tests, especially among cultivars with H9 and H10 resistance (data not shown).

Most of these genes (H9 to H24) had previously been tested against biotypes A, B, C, D, E, L, and GP. All were effective, with the exception of H9, H10, and H12, which are susceptible or weakly resistant to biotype C; H12 also has weak resistance to biotype E, and H11 and H15 to biotype L. The expression of several of these genes is affected by high temperatures (Amri et al. 1992; El Bouhssini et al. 1999). Our results, according to studies of Hessian fly populations in North Africa where the genes H5, H7H8, H11, and H14H15 and those from S. cereale and Ae. tauschii were effective against Hessian fly populations (El Bouhssini et al. 1992 a,b; 1996; Naber et al. 2003; Bouktila et al. 2005). In the U.S. populations, H9, H10, and H12 genes showed weak resistance to fly populations in which biotype C was not present (Ratcliffe et al. 1996).

In this study, we demonstrated the importance of the wheat genetic background in the expression of Hessian fly resistance genes and, thereby, the necessity of not separating H genes from wheat genetic background. Virulence to H3, H6, H9, H10, and H12 was present in Hessian fly population from Azuaga, thus the use of these resistance genes in wheat cultivars adapted to southwestern Spain may be limited. Resistant genes from wild relatives are effective but, because of potential rapid change in Hessian fly populations, it is important to continue studying virulence in the field, which would help to develop appropriate gene deployment strategy for Hessian fly in Spain.

Acknowledgment. We are coöperating with Agrosa Semillas Selectas SA. This work was supported by Grant AGL2004-06791-CO4 from the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología of Spain.

References.

• Amri A, El Bouhssini M, Cox TS, and Hatchett JH. 1992. Expression of genes for resistance to Hessian fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) at three temperature regimes. Al Awamia 77:129-128.
• Bouktila D, Mezghani M, Marrakchi M, and Makni H. 2005. Identification of wheat sources resistant to Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in Tunissia. Internat J Agric Biol 7:799-803.
• Cartwrigth WB and LaHue DW. 1944. Testing wheats in the greenhouse for Hessian fly resistance. J Econ Entomol 37:385-387.
• Delibes A, Del Moral J, Martín-Sánchez JA, Mejías A, Gallego M, Casado D, Sin E, and López-Braña I. 1997. Hessian fly resistance gene transferred from chromosome 4M^v of Aegilops ventricosa to Triticum aestivum. Theor Appl Genet 94:858-864.
• El Bouhssini M, Amri A, Hatchett JH, and Lhaloui S. 1992a. New sources of resistance in wheat to Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Al Awamia 77:89-108.
• El Bouhssini M, Hatchett JH, Lhaloui S, and Amri A. 1992b. Suppression of Hessian fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) population in Morocco by the use of resistant wheat cultivars. Al Awamia 77:129-145.
• El Bouhssini M, Hatchett JH, and Wilde GE. 1999. Hessian fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) larval survival as affected by wheat resistance alleles, temperature and larval density. J Agric Urban Entomol l16:245-254.
• Gallun RL. 1977. Genetic basis of Hessian fly epidemics. Ann NY Acad Sci 287:223-229.
• Hatchett JH and Gallun RL. 1970. Genetics of the ability of the Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor, to survive on wheats having different genes for resistance. Ann Entomol Soc Am 63:1400-1407.
• Liu XM, Brown-Guedira GL, Hatchett JH, Owuoche JO, and Chen MS. 2005. Genetic characterization and molecular mapping of a Hessian fly resistance gene transferred from T. turgidum ssp. dicoccum to common wheat. Theor Appl Genet 111:308-1315.
• Martín-Sánchez JA, Del Moral J, Sin E, Montes MJ, González-Belinchón C, López-Braña I, and Delibes A. 2003. A new Hessian fly resistance gene (H30) transferred from the wild grass Aegilops triuncialis to hexaploid wheat. Theor Appl Genet 106:1248-1255.
• Naber N, Bouhssini M, and Lhaloui S. 2003. Byotipes of Hessian fly (Dipt., Cecidomyiidae) in Morocco. J App Entomol 127:174-176.
• Ratcliffe RH, Safranski GG, Patterson FL, Ohm HW, and Taylor PL. 1994. Biotype status of Hessian fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) populations from the eastern United States and their response to 14 Hessian fly resistance genes. J Econ Entomol 87:1113-1121.
• Ratcliffe RH, Ohm HW, Patterson FL, Cambron SE, and Safranski G. 1996. Response of resistance genes H9-H19 in wheat to Hessian fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) laboratory biotypes and field populations from the eastern United States. J Econ Entomol 89:1309-1317.
• Ratcliffe RH, Cambron SE, Flanders KL, Bosque-Pérez NA, Clement SL, and Ohm HW. 2000. Biotype composition of Hessian fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) populations from southeastern, midwestern, and northwestern United States and virulence to resistance genes in wheat. J Econ Entomol 93:1319-1328.

New releases. [p. 90-91]

Victorino is a spring bread wheat cultivar released in 2006. Developed from the backcross 'H-93-8/4*Rinconada' under the designation ID-2150, Victorino has the Cre2 gene, transferred from Ae. ventricosa, for resistance to the cereal cyst nematode H. avenae (Delibes et al. 1993). Victorino is a high-yielding, medium maturing, semidwarf cultivar with moderate resistance to powdery mildew and leaf rust. This cultivar is best adapted to the southern and northeastern wheat-growing regions of Spain and has good quality properties suitable for the baking industry.

T-2003, developed from the backcross 'TR-353/3*Osona//4*Cartaya' with the Cre7 resistance gene to H. avenae, transferred from Ae. triuncialis (Romero et al. 1998), was one of the top yielding lines in the National Variety Trial Testing of Spain (OEVV). T-2003 is an early maturing, semidwarf cultivar moderately resistant to powdery mildew and resistant to leaf rust. This cultivar is better adapted to the southern and northeastern wheat-growing regions of Spain. Because the dough strength (W) values have been below average, T-2003 appears to have regular baking quality.

The induction of several defense responses during early infection by juveniles of H. avenae (pathotype Ha71) in both resistant cultivars (Victorino and T-2003) was studied. Isoelectricfocusing isozyme analysis revealed that peroxidase activity increased in roots of resistant cultivars after nematode infection compared with the susceptible parent cultivar Almatense H-10-15. This result agrees with previous observations on resistance conferred by the Cre2 and Cre7 resistance genes (Andrés et al. 2001; Montes et al. 2004). The H. avenae pathotype Ha71 was unable to overcome their resistance mechanisms in introgression lines with Cre genes, and peroxidase activity increased in roots of these lines after nematode infection.

References.

• Andrés MF, Melillo MT, Delibes A, Romero MD, and Bleve-Zacheo T. 2001. Changes in wheat roots enzymes correlated with resistance to cereal cyst nematode. New Phytol 152:343-354.
• Delibes A, Romero D, Aguaded S, Duce A, Mena M, Lopez-Braña I, Andrés MF, Martín-Sanchez JA, and García-Olmedo F. 1993. Resistance to the cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae Woll.) transferred from the wild grass Aegilops ventricosa to hexaploid wheat by a "stepping stone" procedure. Theor Appl Gene t 87:402-408.
• Montes MJ, López-Braña I, and Delibes A. 2004. Root enzyme activities associated with resistance to Heterodera avenae conferred by gene Cre7 in a wheat/Aegilops triuncialis introgression line. J Plant Physiol 161:493-495.
• Romero MD, Montes MJ, Sin E, López-Braña I, Duce A, Martín-Sánchez JA, Andrés MF, and Delibes A. 1998. A cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae Woll.) resistance gene transferred from Aegilops triuncialis to hexaploid wheat. Theor Appl Genet 96:1135-1140.

Acknowledgement. This work was supported by Grant AGL2004-06791-CO4 from the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología of Spain.

Publications. [p. 91]

• Andrés MF, Simonetti E, González-Belinchón CM, Moreno S, López-Braña I, Romero MD, Martín-Sánchez JA, and Delibes A. 2006. Peroxidase expression in a cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae) resistant hexaploid wheat line. In: Abstr XII Cong of the Mediterranean Phytopathogical Union. Rodas (Grecia), pp. 536-537.
• Andrés MF, Delibes A, and López-Braña I. 2007. Utilización de marcadores moleculares en el estudio de nematodos fitoparásitos. In: Herramientas biotecnológicas en plantas (Spanish Soc Phythopath, Ed.) (in press).
• Briceño-Félix G, Huerta-Espino J, Torres i Ruiz L, Betbesé JA, and Martín-Sánchez JA. 2006. Yield losses caused by powdery mildew on bread wheat cultivars under irrigated Mediterranean conditions in Spain. In: Abstr EUCARPIA Cereal Sect Meet 'Cereal Science and Technology for Feeding Ten Billion People: Genomics Era and Beyond', Lleida, Spain, pp. 138.
• Delibes A, López-Braña I, Moreno-Vázquez S, and González-Belinchón CM. 2005. Selección y caracterización molecular y agronómica de trigos hexaploides portadores de genes de resistencia a Heterodera avenae y/o Mayetiola destructor transferidos desde Aegilops. PHYTOMA-España 169:72-75 (In Spanish).
• Delibes A, López-Braña I, Moreno-Vázquez S, Gonzalez-Belinchón CM, Romero MD, Andres MF, Martín-Sánchez JA, Briceño-Félix G, Sin E, Martínez C, Michelena A, Del Moral J, Pérez Rojas F, and Senero M. 2005. Resistance of bread wheat advanced lines to nematodes and Hessian fly. Progress update. Ann Wheat Newslet 51:161-163.
• Delibes A, López-Braña I, Moreno-Vázquez S, Simonetti, Romero MD, Andrés MF, Martín-Sánchez JA, Briceño-Félix G, Sin E, Martínez C, Michelena A, and Torres L. 2006. Characterization of resistance to cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae) in Triticum aestivum/Aegilops introgression lines. Ann Wheat Newslet 52:123-125.
• Martín-Sánchez JA, Sin E, Delibes A, López-Braña I, Romero MD, Andrés MF, Del Moral J, Torres L, and Briceño-Félix G. 2005. Advanced bread wheat lines with Hessian fly and Cereal Cyst Nematode resistance genes transferred from Ae. ventricosa and Ae. triuncialis. In: Abstr 7th Internat Wheat Conf, Mar del Plata, Argentina, pp. 146.
• Montes MJ, López-Braña I, and Delibes A. 2004 . Root enzyme activities associated with resistance to Heterodera avenae conferred by gene Cre7 in a wheat/Aegilops triuncialis introgression line. J Plant Physiol 161:493-495.
• Moreno-Vázquez S, Ning J, and Meyers BC. 2005. hATpin, a family of MITE-like hAT mobile elements conserved in diverse plant species that forms highly stable secondary structures. Plant Mol Biol 58:869-886.
• Moreno S, López-Braña I, González-Belinchón CM, Simonetti E, Delibes A, MD Romero, Andrés MF, and Martín-Sánchez JA. 2005. Peroxidase induction in resistant hexaploid wheat in response to cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae) infection. In: Abstr Plant Genomics European Meeting 'Plant Genomics and Environment (abiotic and biotic)', Amsterdam, The Netherlands, P 8-030, pp. 212.
• Sin E, Martín-Sánchez JA, Delibes A, López-Braña I, Pérez-Rojas F, and Del Moral J. 2006. Evaluation of Hessian Fly Population (Mayetiola destructor Say) in the South-Western of Spain.. In: Abstr EUCARPIA Cereal Sect Meet 'Cereal Science and Technology for Feeding Ten Billion People: Genomics Era and Beyond', Lleida, Spain, pp. 168.
• Sin E, Martín-Sánchez JA, López-Braña I, Simonetti E, Andrés MF, Del Moral J, Moreno S, Torres i Ruíz L, Briceño GF, and Delibes A. 2006. Advanced bread wheat lines carrying Cre2, Cre7, H27 and H30 resistance genes transferred from Ae. ventricosa and Ae. triuncialis. In: Abstr Plant Genomics European Meet, Venice, Italy, pp. 368.