Back to nature: Searching for novel sources of host-plant resistance against spotted-wing drosophila

Commodities

• Fruits: berries (blueberries)

Practices

• Crop Production: crop improvement and selection
• Education and Training: extension
• Pest Management: cultivation, cultural control, integrated pest management
• Production Systems: agroecosystems

The invasion of spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila
suzukii (Matsumura), into the United States in 2008 has
inflicted significant damage to soft-skinned fruits such as
blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and
cherries, resulting in annual losses exceeding $500 million.
Presently, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies for SWD
heavily rely on chemical control tactics, which are neither
economically nor environmentally sustainable in the long term.
Thus, it is imperative to develop alternative, more sustainable
IPM tactics for better management of this pest species. One such
underutilized IPM tactic is host-plant resistance. Host-plant
resistance is a key IPM component that leverages the inherent
adaptations of many plants to avoid or tolerate insect or disease
pests and can be harnessed through modern breeding efforts to
develop resistant cultivars. Wild relatives of many domesticated
plants represent an untapped potential source of host-plant
resistance, as studies have shown that they often exhibit greater
resistance to insect pests. However, there has been limited
exploration of wild plants as a potential source of resistance to
SWD. Therefore, the objective of this research is to identify
novel sources of host-plant resistance against SWD by examining
various wild and domesticated blueberry populations. This
endeavor aims to further the development of host-plant resistance
to SWD as a more sustainable IPM tactic. Ultimately, this
research will contribute to the advancement of host-plant
resistance as a viable and eco-friendly strategy for managing
SWD. This proposal aligns with Northeast SARE's Outcome Statement
by focusing on the development of sustainable management
practices for an invasive pest.

Objective 1. Identify novel sources of host-plant resistance to
spotted-wing drosophila (SWD).

I will conduct studies to examine the preference and performance
of SWD on blueberry fruits collected from various wild and
domesticated populations. Based on prior research, I anticipate
that SWD will exhibit a preference for volatiles emitted by wild
blueberry fruits but will show better oviposition and performance
on domesticated fruits. In addition, I expect the strength of
these preference-performance relationships to vary among
different wild and domesticated blueberry populations.

Objective 2. Identify the mechanisms of resistance.

I will conduct studies to evaluate various physical and chemical
fruit traits that may contribute to antibiosis (reduced
performance) and antixenosis (non-preference) resistance across
different wild and domesticated populations. I predict that fruit
size, firmness, sugar and phenolic content, and volatile
emissions will vary among these populations, potentially
correlating with SWD performance and preference.

Objective 3. Provide extension resources to growers.

I will disseminate information on pest management and host-plant
resistance against SWD through presentations at growers'
meetings, articles in newsletters, and the creation of a
factsheet. Additionally, I will establish a timeline for these
extension activities to ensure timely delivery of information to
growers and offer additional support such as training sessions or
expert consultations as needed.