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Title: Evaluation of onion germplasm for resistance to Iris yellow spot (Iris yellow spot virus) and onion thrips, Thrips tabaci

Author
item BOATENG, C - Colorado State University
item SCHWARTZ, H - Colorado State University
item Havey, Michael
item OTTO, K - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Southwestern Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2014
Publication Date: 6/1/2014
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/58964
Citation: Boateng, C.O., Schwartz, H.F., Havey, M.J., Otto, K. 2014. Evaluation of onion germplasm for resistance to Iris yellow spot (Iris yellow spot virus) and onion thrips, Thrips tabaci. Southwestern Entomologist. 39(2):237-260.

Interpretive Summary: Onion suffers severe damage from the insect thrips (Thrips tabaci). In addition to direct feeding damage, onion thrips is the principal vector of the economically important Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV). Any attempt to manage this pathosystem will require a multifaceted approach based on integrated pest management. Host plant resistance is an important foundation to the success of such approaches. A multi-state, multi-disciplinary research project was established to identify, validate and deliver resistance(s) to this pathosystem for use by the onion industry. As part of this project, diverse onion plant introductions (PIs) from the USDA germplasm collection, advanced breeding lines, and commercial cultivars were evaluated from 2009 through 2011 in field trials in Colorado. Sixteen, 15 and 10 better performing germplasms were selected in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. Of these, PIs 264320 (Grano), 546140 (San Joaquin), and 546192 (Yellow Sweet Spanish) were selected in both 2009 and 2010, and PIs 258956 (Calderana 1028) and 546188 (Yellow Sweet Spanish Winegar) were selected in all three years. This information and seed from these selections will be useful to onion breeders in the public and private sectors to address serious losses caused by thrips and IYSV.

Technical Abstract: Onion (Allium cepa L.) is the most economically important monocot outside of the grasses. This important crop suffers severe damage from onion thrips (Thrips tabaci), a cosmopolitan and polyphagous insect pest. In addition to direct feeding damages, onion thrips has emerged as the principal vector of the economically important Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV, family Bunyaviridae). Any attempt to manage this pathosystem will require a multifaceted approach based on integrated pest management. Host plant resistance is an important foundation to the success of such approaches. A multi-state, multi-disciplinary research project was established to identify, validate and deliver resistance(s) to this pathosystem for use by the onion industry. As part of the project, diverse onion accessions from the USDA germplasm collection, advanced breeding lines, and commercial cultivars were evaluated from 2009 through 2011 in field trials in Colorado. Sixteen, 15 and 10 better performing germplasms were selected in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. Of these, PIs 264320 (Grano), 546140 (San Joaquin), and 546192 (Yellow Sweet Spanish) were selected in both 2009 and 2010, and PIs 258956 (Calderana 1028) and 546188 (Yellow Sweet Spanish Winegar) were selected in all three years.