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Larval Antiniosis Screening Technique for Mexican Bean Beetle Resistance in Soybean 1
Author(s) -
Rufener G. K.,
Hammond R. B.,
Cooper R. L.,
St. Martin S. K.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1987.0011183x002700030037x
Subject(s) - antibiosis , biology , larva , resistance (ecology) , insect , agronomy , horticulture , botany , genetics , bacteria
Soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] breeders and entomologists have primarily used field techniques to screen for insect resistance. Problems they have encountered include maturity variability among the host plants, variability in natural insect populations, and an inability to separate antibiosis from non preference. We developed a laboratory screening technique to breed for resistance to Mexican bean beetle ( Epilachna varivestis Mulsant). Larval mortality and development are monitored to determine the level of antibiosis in individual plants. High mortality and/or slow larval development indicate high levels of antibiosis resistance. This laboratory technique allows the breeder and entomologist to control insect pressure while screening year‐round and to eliminate the problems associated with plant maturity differences in the field. Screening of the soybean lines is started at the V3 developmental stage; thus, resistant plants can be identified prior to anthesis. This allows for crosses among resistant lines to be accomplished the same growing season. These factors significantly reduce the time needed to develop Mexican bean beetle resistant lines.