Abstract Detail

Stress Tolerance

Hall, Mitchell D. [1], Brosi, Sunshine [1], Puthoff, David [1].

The effectiveness of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) modified with a Hessian fly-responsive(Hfr) gene against phloem-feeding and chewing insects.

Many of the world's crops are lost every year due to insect pests feeding on them. Insecticides constitute the largest form of control for these pests with resistant biotypes of insect increasing each year. In wheat, Triticum aestivum L., Hessian fly-responsive gene 1 (Hfr-1) was found to keep avirulent larvae from establishing a feeding site on the leaf surface (Williams et al., 2002). In addition, Hfr-2and Hfr-3 have similar potential (Puthoff et al, 2005; Giovanini et al.,2007). These genes have been engineered into tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) via T-DNA transfer using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. While there are almost limitless numbers of pests that commonly host on tomato plants, some of the most devastating include: silver whitefly (Bemisiata baci biotype B), fall army worm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and mealy bugs (Phenacoccus spp.).These insects will be introduced separately to each type of modified tomato plant (containing Hfr-1, -2 or -3) and control plants. The plants and insects will be monitored for 4 weeks. Success of the insects will be measured by total weight, weight gain, time to pupation, time between molts, time to enclosure, and fatality. The resulting number of insects will provide insight into the effectiveness of the Hfr gene to confer resistance. By developing new strategies to combat ever-evolving insect pests, the need for increased food production worldwide will become more of a reality.

Broader Impacts:

1 - Frostburg State University, Biology, 101 Braddock Road, Frostburg, MD, 21532, USA

Keywords:
tomato
transgenics
insect resistance
whitefly
army worm.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Khorassan Ballroom/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PST002
Abstract ID:221