Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #170991
Title: AN IN VITRO SUGAR BEET ROOT MAGGOT (TETANOPS MYOPAEFORMIS) FEEDING ASSAY

Author
item IVIC-HAYMES, SNEZANA - TOWSON UNIVERSITY
item BOETEL, MARK - ND STATE UNIV FARGO ND
item Campbell, Larry
item DREGSETH, ROBERT - ND STATE UNIV FARDO ND
item Smigocki, Anna

Submitted to: American Society of Sugarbeet Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2005
Publication Date: 8/15/2005
Citation: Ivic-Haymes, S.D., Boetel, M., Campbell, L.G., Dregseth, R., Smigocki, A.C. 2005. An in vitro sugar beet root maggot (tetanops myopaeformis) feeding assay. American Society of Sugarbeet Technologists. p.33.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sugar beet root maggot (SBRM, Tetanops myopaeformis Röder) is a serious pest of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in North America and Canada. Insecticides are the only available measure for control of the maggot and alternative control measures are being sought. An in vitro system was established to study interactions between sugar beet roots and SBRM. Sources of root material included hairy root cultures, 14 day old seedlings and taproots from 1 year old greenhouse plants. Hairy root cultures were stained in 0.01% safranin or crystal violet and placed on petri plates with ½ strength B5 medium or water-moistened Whatman 3 filter paper or nylon membrane. Seedlings and taproots were placed on nylon membranes. To reduce contamination, benomyl (10 mg/l), cefotaxime (300 mg/l) and carbenicillin (400 mg/l) were added to the plates. First, second and third instar SBRM, obtained either from eggs of laboratory-reared flies or from soil samples collected from infested sugar beet fields, were placed on the roots. Evidence of SBRM feeding included severed roots and safranin or crystal violet in the frass or intestinal tracts of insects. Some larvae survived for more than 50 days on the roots. This bioassay will be useful for rapid screening of newly developed SBRM resistant sugar beet germplasm, chemical control agents or biocontrol organisms. Insecticidal plant extracts and spores of a biocontrol fungus, Syngliocladium tetanopsis, are currently being evaluated by this assay.