Arthropod-Plant Interactions (2017) 11, 577-590

Shimat V. Joseph, Ian M. Grettenberger, Larry D. Godfrey and Noel Zavala (2017)
Susceptibility of germinating cruciferous seeds to Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) feeding injury
Arthropod-Plant Interactions 11 (4), 577-590
Abstract: Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a serious pest that attacks both germinating and seedling stages of a variety of cruciferous crops grown in the Central Coast of California. B. hilaris feeding on germinating seeds can cause severe stunting and plant mortality, and little is known about the feeding preference of B. hilaris for germinating seeds of major cruciferous hosts and varieties of hosts. No-choice and choice experiments were conducted in which germinating seeds in soilless and soil settings were exposed to B. hilaris adults for 7 days. Susceptibility scores were developed using B. hilaris feeding injury sites, distorted leaves, and deformed and dead plants to determine the overall B. hilaris preference for germinating host seeds. Based on the scores, the order of preference was arugula (Eruca sativa L.) > turnip (B. rapa L. var. rapa) > mizuna (B. rapa L. nipposinica) > kale (B. oleracea L. acephala) > choi (Brassica rapa L. var. chinensis) > broccoli (B. oleracea var. italica Plenck) > cauliflower (B. oleracea L. var. botrytis) > lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) > sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima [L.] Desv.). The lowest feeding injury was recorded on germinating lettuce and sweet alyssum seeds. Furthermore, no-choice and choice experiments were conducted with four varieties each of arugula and mizuna, twelve varieties each of kale and choi, and nine varieties/types of leafy Asian greens. The arugula varieties 'Wild Rocket' and 'Spirit' were more damaged by B. hilaris than other varieties tested. Among mizuna varieties, 'Beira F1' was more attractive to B. hilaris than 'Scarlet' or 'Starbor F1.' The choi varieties 'Tokyo Bekana,' 'Feng Qing Choi F1,' 'Joi Choi F1,' and 'Win-Win Choi F1' were more attractive than 'Rosie F1.' The leafy Asian greens variety 'Carlton F1' was more attractive to B. hilaris than 'Yukina Savon,' 'Tatsoi OG,' 'Komatsuna Summerfest F1,' 'Red Rain F1,' and 'Shungiku.' Therefore, the results suggest that not all varieties were equally susceptible to B. hilaris feeding and possibly be utilized for further field evaluation as a trap crop or developing more resistant varieties to B. hilaris.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Shimat V. Joseph

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Bagrada hilaris	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)	U.S.A. (SW)
	Bagrada hilaris	Brassica - other species	U.S.A. (SW)
	Bagrada hilaris	Rocket (Eruca)	U.S.A. (SW)