GENETICS OF RESISTANCE TO HESSIAN FLY (MAYETIOLA-DESTRUCTOR) [DIPTERA, CECIDOMYIIDAE] BIOTYPE-L IN DIPLOID WHEATS

Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) is a serious pest of wheat (Triticu m spp.) and of the reported biotypes of Hessian fly, biotype L is desc ribed as the most virulent. Inheritance of resistance to Hessian fly b iotype L was investigated in crosses of a resistant accession of Triti cum monococcum, and two susceptible accessions of T, monococcum and on e susceptible accession of T. boeoticum, all diploid wheats. F2 and te stcross (backcross) families were classified for reaction to Hessian f ly in the seedling stage and ana lysed by Chi-square good ness-of-fit tests for genetic segregation ratios of resistant or segregating famil ies to susceptible families. Resistance was found to be simply inherit ed, controlled by one or two genes. This is the first report on the in heritance of resistance to Hessian fly in A-genome diploid wheats, and simple genetic control indicates possibility of transfer of this trai t to cultivated wheats.