Gene interactions constrain the course of evolution of phosphine resistance in the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica

Phosphine, a widely used fumigant for the protection of stored grain from insect pests, kills organisms indirectly by inducing oxidative stress. High levels of heritable resistance to phosphine in the insect pest of stored grain, Rhyzopertha dominica have been detected in Asia, Australia and South America. In order to understand the evolution of phosphine resistance and to isolate the responsible genes, we have undertaken genetic linkage analysis of fully sensitive (QRD14), moderately resistant (QRD369) and highly resistant (QRD569) strains of R. dominica collected in Australia. We previously determined that two loci, rph1 and rph2, confer high-level resistance on strain QRD569, which was collected in 1997. We have now confirmed that rph1 is responsible for the moderate resistance of strain QRD369, which was collected in 1990, and is shared with a highly resistant strain from the same geographical region, QRD569. In contrast, rph2 by itself confers only very weak resistance, either as a heterozygote or as a homozygote and was not discovered in the field until weak resistance (probably due to rph1) had become ubiquitous. Thus, high-level resistance against phosphine has evolved via stepwise acquisition of resistance alleles, first at rph1 and thereafter at rph2. The semi-dominance of rph2 together with the synergistic interaction between rph1 and rph2 would have led to rapid selection for homozygosity. A lack of visible fitness cost associated with alleles at either locus suggests that the resistance phenotype will persist in the field.     

The rph1 gene is a common contributor to the evolution of phosphine resistance in independent field isolates of Rhyzopertha dominica

Phosphine is the only economically viable fumigant for routine control of insect pests of stored food products, but its continued use is now threatened by the world-wide emergence of high-level resistance in key pest species. Phosphine has a unique mode of action relative to well-characterised contact pesticides. Similarly, the selective pressures that lead to resistance against field sprays differ dramatically from those encountered during fumigation. The consequences of these differences have not been investigated adequately. We determine the genetic basis of phosphine resistance in Rhyzopertha dominica strains collected from New South Wales and South Australia and compare this with resistance in a previously characterised strain from Queensland. The resistance levels range from 225 and 100 times the baseline response of a sensitive reference strain. Moreover, molecular and phenotypic data indicate that high-level resistance was derived independently in each of the three widely separated geographical regions. Despite the independent origins, resistance was due to two interacting genes in each instance. Furthermore, complementation analysis reveals that all three strains contain an incompletely recessive resistance allele of the autosomal rph1 resistance gene. This is particularly noteworthy as a resistance allele at rph1 was previously proposed to be a necessary first step in the evolution of high-level resistance. Despite the capacity of phosphine to disrupt a wide range of enzymes and biological processes, it is remarkable that the initial step in the selection of resistance is so similar in isolated outbreaks.     

Genetics of resistance to phosphine in Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

The inheritance of resistance to phosphine was studied in two strains of the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), labeled 'Weak-R' and 'Strong-R'. These strains were purified versions of field-selected populations collected in Queensland, Australia. Weak-R and Strong-R were, respectively, 23.4 times (20-h exposure) and 600 times (48-h exposure) resistant to phosphine compared with a reference susceptible strain (S-strain). Each -R strain was crossed with the S-strain and the response to phosphine was measured in their respective F1, F2, and F1-backcross (F1-BC) progenies. Data from testing of reciprocal F1 progeny indicated that resistance in Weak-R was autosomal and incompletely recessive with a degree of dominance -0.96. Modified chi-square analysis and contingency analysis of the observed response to phosphine of F1-BC and F2 progenies rejected the hypothesis of single gene inheritance of resistance. Analysis of the response of the F1, F2, and F1-BC progeny from the Strong-R x S-strain cross also rejected the null hypothesis for single gene resistance. Resistance in the Strong-R strain was autosomal and incompletely recessive with a degree of dominance of -0.64. The Weak-R and Strong-R strains were then crossed. Analysis ofthe F1 and F2 progenies of this reciprocal cross revealed that the strong resistance phenotype was coded by a combination of the genes already present in the Weak-R genotype plus an extra major, incompletely recessive gene. There was also evidence of a minor dominant gene present in approximately 5% of Strong-R individuals.     

Reproductive patterns of Caloglossa species (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta) from Australia and New Zealand: multiple origins of asexuality in C. leprieurii. Literature review on apomixis, mixed-phase, bisexuality and sexual compatibility

Reproduction and life history patterns in culture of five Caloglossa speaes from Australia and New Zealand are compared. Caloglossa adhaerens King et Puttock and Caloglossa bengalensis (Martens) King et Puttock have a Polyslphonla‐type sexual life history (P‐type, isomorphic alternation of generations). Caloglossa monosticha Kamiya occurs only in Western Australia (WA) and is a P‐type. Caloglossa ogasawaraensis Okamura occurs in WA, Northern Territory (NT), Queensland (QLD), New South Wales (NSW), Victoria (VIC) and South Australia (SA) and is for the most part a P‐type in culture. A few isolates have bisexual gametophytes that are self‐compatible, while most are unisexual. Caloglossa ogasawaraensis from Adelaide, SA and from Wilsons Promontory, VIC are new records for these States. In Australia, Caloglossa postiae (King et Puttock) Kamiya et King occurs in NSW, NT and QLD. All nine isolates are P‐type. Isolates of Caloglossa leprieurii (Montagne) G. Martens from NSW, NT, QLD, Tasmania, VIC and New Zealand are P‐type except for the freshwater isolates in which tetraspore germlings do not reproduce. In some isolates mixed‐phase reproduction is seen with male gametophytes producing both viable spermatia and tetrasporangia and female gametophytes producing procarps and sori with non‐dividing sporangia. All isolates of C. leprieurii irom Spencer Gulf and Gulf of St Vincent, SA and one isolate from QLD give rise to successive asexual generations of tetrasporophytes. Based on RuBisCO spacer DNA data an asexual life history has arisen several times in the C. leprieurii complex. The literature on apomixis, mixed‐phase reproduction, bisexuality and sexual compatibility in red algae is surveyed.     

Phosphine resistance in Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica from stored wheat in Oklahoma

Phosphine gas, or hydrogen phosphide (PH3), is the most common insecticide applied to durable stored products worldwide and is routinely used in the United States for treatment of bulk-stored cereal grains and other durable stored products. Research from the late 1980s revealed low frequencies of resistance to various residual grain protectant insecticides and to phosphine in grain insect species collected in Oklahoma. The present work, which used the same previously established discriminating dose bioassays for phosphine toxicity as in the earlier study, evaluated adults of nine different populations of red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), and five populations of lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) collected from different geographic locations in Oklahoma. One additional population for each species was a laboratory susceptible strain. Discriminating dose assays determined eight out of the nine T. castaneum populations, and all five populations of R. dominica, contained phosphine-resistant individuals, and highest resistance frequencies were 94 and 98%, respectively. Dose-response bioassays and logit analyses determined that LC99 values were approximately 3 ppm for susceptible and 377 ppm for resistant T. castaneum, and approximately 2 ppm for susceptible and 3,430 ppm for resistant R. dominica. The most resistant T. castaneum population was 119-fold more resistant than the susceptible strain and the most resistant R. dominica population was over 1,500-fold more resistant. Results suggest a substantial increase in phosphine resistance in these major stored-wheat pests in the past 21 yr, and these levels of resistance to phosphine approach those reported for other stored-grain pest species in other countries.     

Inheritance and Characterization of Strong Resistance to Phosphine in Sitophilus oryzae (L.)

Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus) is a major pest of stored grain across Southeast Asia and is of increasing concern in other regions due to the advent of strong resistance to phosphine, the fumigant used to protect stored grain from pest insects. We investigated the inheritance of genes controlling resistance to phosphine in a strongly resistant S. oryzae strain (NNSO7525) collected in Australia and find that the trait is autosomally inherited and incompletely recessive with a degree of dominance of -0.66. The strongly resistant strain has an LC50 52 times greater than a susceptible reference strain (LS2) and 9 times greater than a weakly resistant strain (QSO335). Analysis of F2 and backcross progeny indicates that two or more genes are responsible for strong resistance, and that one of these genes, designated So_rph1, not only contributes to strong resistance, but is also responsible for the weak resistance phenotype of strain QSO335. These results demonstrate that the genetic mechanism of phosphine resistance in S. oryzae is similar to that of other stored product insect pests. A unique observation is that a subset of the progeny of an F1 backcross generation are more strongly resistant to phosphine than the parental strongly resistant strain, which may be caused by multiple alleles of one of the resistance genes.     

Patterns of differentiation among wild rabbit populations Oryctolagus cuniculus L. in arid and semiarid ecosystems of north-eastern Australia

Feral rabbit populations in Australia have generally been managed using localized control procedures. While these procedures may result in local extinctions, persistence of populations will depend on the probability of recolonization. Genetic markers developed using temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) combined with heteroduplex analysis (HA) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were used to characterize the degree of subdivision and extent of gene flow within and among rabbit populations distributed over large distances (up to 1000 km) in southern Queensland (QLD) and north-west New South Wales (NSW), Australia. TGGE analyses revealed significant heterogeneity in mtDNA control region haplotype frequencies. From heterogeneity χ² tests, it was evident that the differentiation observed was largely attributable to five sites which were located in the semiarid eastern region, whereas haplotype frequencies were homogeneous throughout the arid western region. These results suggest that there are independent population systems within the study area. The extent of gene flow among local populations within each system is related to the spatial configuration of acceptable habitat patches and the persistence of the populations is determined by the probability of recolonization following local extinction. These data suggest that to provide better overall control of rabbit populations, different management strategies may be necessary in arid and semiarid ecosystems. In arid south-west QLD and north-west NSW, where extensive gene flow occurs over large distances, rabbit populations should be managed at a regional level. In semiarid eastern QLD, where gene flow is restricted and populations are more isolated, localized control procedures may provide effective short-term relief. These results indicate that in nonequilibrium systems with patchy distribution of individuals, the interpretation of migration rate from estimates of gene flow obtained using existing genetic models must include an understanding of the spatial and temporal scales over which population processes operate.     

Phosphine resistance in the rust red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): inheritance, gene interactions and fitness costs

The recent emergence of heritable high level resistance to phosphine in stored grain pests is a serious concern among major grain growing countries around the world. Here we describe the genetics of phosphine resistance in the rust red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), a pest of stored grain as well as a genetic model organism. We investigated three field collected strains of T. castaneum viz., susceptible (QTC4), weakly resistant (QTC1012) and strongly resistant (QTC931) to phosphine. The dose-mortality responses of their test- and inter-cross progeny revealed that most resistance was conferred by a single major resistance gene in the weakly (3.2×) resistant strain. This gene was also found in the strongly resistant (431×) strain, together with a second major resistance gene and additional minor factors. The second major gene by itself confers only 12-20× resistance, suggesting that a strong synergistic epistatic interaction between the genes is responsible for the high level of resistance (431×) observed in the strongly resistant strain. Phosphine resistance is not sex linked and is inherited as an incompletely recessive, autosomal trait. The analysis of the phenotypic fitness response of a population derived from a single pair inter-strain cross between the susceptible and strongly resistant strains indicated the changes in the level of response in the strong resistance phenotype; however this effect was not consistent and apparently masked by the genetic background of the weakly resistant strain. The results from this work will inform phosphine resistance management strategies and provide a basis for the identification of the resistance genes.     

Size of the first spring generation of Helicoverpa punctigera (Wallengren) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and winter rain in central Australia

Serious infestations of Helicoverpa punctigera are experienced yearly in the eastern cropping regions of Australia. Regression analysis was used to determine whether the size of the first generation in spring (G₁), which is comprised mostly of immigrants from inland Australia, was related to monthly rainfall in inland winter breeding areas. Data from two long series of light-trap catches at Narrabri in New South Wales (NSW) and Turretfield in South Australia (SA) were used in the analyses. The size of G₁ at Narrabri in each year was significantly regressed on the amount of rainfall in western Queensland and NSW in May and June. The size of G₁ at Turretfield each year was significantly regressed on the amount of rain in May, June and July in western Queensland and NSW and also in the desert of central Western Australia. Low r ² values of the regressions suggest that rainfall data for more sites, as well as biological and other physical factors, such as temperature, evaporation, and prevailing wind systems, may need to be included to improve forecasts of the potential magnitude of the infestations in coastal cropping regions.     

Field evaluation of spinosad as a grain protectant for stored wheat in Australia: efficacy against Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) and fate of residues in whole wheat and milling fractions

Abstract  The potential of spinosad as a grain protectant for the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica , was investigated in a silo-scale trial on wheat stored in Victoria, Australia. Rhyzopertha dominica is a serious pest of stored grain, and its resistance to protectants and the fumigant phosphine is becoming more common. This trial follows earlier laboratory research showing that spinosad may be a useful pest management option for this species. Wheat (300 t) from the 2005 harvest was treated with spinosad 0.96 mg/kg plus chlorpyrifos-methyl 10 mg/kg in March 2006, and samples were collected at intervals during 7.5 month storage to determine efficacy and residues in wheat and milling fractions. Chlorpyrifos-methyl is already registered in Australia for control of several other pest species, and its low potency against R. dominica was confirmed in laboratory-treated wheat. Grain moisture content was stable at about 10%, but grain temperature ranged from 29.3°C in March to 14.0°C in August. Bioassays of all treated wheat samples over 7.5 months resulted in 100% adult mortality after 2 weeks exposure and no live progeny were produced. In addition, no live grain insects were detected during outload sampling after a 9 month storage. Spinosad and chlorpyrifos-methyl residues tended to decline during storage, and residues were higher in the bran layer than in either wholemeal or white flour. This field trial confirmed that spinosad was effective as a grain protectant targeting R. dominica .     

Spatiotemporal Aspects of Hendra Virus Infection in Pteropid Bats (Flying-Foxes) in Eastern Australia

Hendra virus (HeV) causes highly lethal disease in horses and humans in the eastern Australian states of Queensland (QLD) and New South Wales (NSW), with multiple equine cases now reported on an annual basis. Infection and excretion dynamics in pteropid bats (flying-foxes), the recognised natural reservoir, are incompletely understood. We sought to identify key spatial and temporal factors associated with excretion in flying-foxes over a 2300 km latitudinal gradient from northern QLD to southern NSW which encompassed all known equine case locations. The aim was to strengthen knowledge of Hendra virus ecology in flying-foxes to improve spillover risk prediction and exposure risk mitigation strategies, and thus better protect horses and humans. Monthly pooled urine samples were collected from under roosting flying-foxes over a three-year period and screened for HeV RNA by quantitative RT-PCR. A generalised linear model was employed to investigate spatiotemporal associations with HeV detection in 13,968 samples from 27 roosts. There was a non-linear relationship between mean HeV excretion prevalence and five latitudinal regions, with excretion moderate in northern and central QLD, highest in southern QLD/northern NSW, moderate in central NSW, and negligible in southern NSW. Highest HeV positivity occurred where black or spectacled flying-foxes were present; nil or very low positivity rates occurred in exclusive grey-headed flying-fox roosts. Similarly, little red flying-foxes are evidently not a significant source of virus, as their periodic extreme increase in numbers at some roosts was not associated with any concurrent increase in HeV detection. There was a consistent, strong winter seasonality to excretion in the southern QLD/northern NSW and central NSW regions. This new information allows risk management strategies to be refined and targeted, mindful of the potential for spatial risk profiles to shift over time with changes in flying-fox species distribution.     

Phosphine resistance in India is characterised by a dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase variant that is otherwise unobserved in eukaryotes

Phosphine (PH₃) fumigation is the primary method worldwide for controlling insect pests of stored commodities. Over-reliance on phosphine, however, has led to the emergence of strong resistance. Detailed genetic studies previously identified two loci, rph1 and rph2, that interact synergistically to create a strong resistance phenotype. We compared the genetics of phosphine resistance in strains of Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium castaneum from India and Australia, countries having similar pest species but widely differing in pest management practices. Sequencing analysis of the rph2 locus, dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (dld), identified two structurally equivalent variants, Proline49>Serine (P49S) in one R. dominica strain and P45S in three strains of T. castaneum from India. These variants of the DLD protein likely affect FAD cofactor interaction with the enzyme. A survey of insects from storage facilities across southern India revealed that the P45/49S variant is distributed throughout the region at very high frequencies, in up to 94% of R. dominica and 97% of T. castaneum in the state of Tamil Nadu. The abundance of the P45/49S variant in insect populations contrasted sharply with the evolutionary record in which the variant was absent from eukaryotic DLD sequences. This suggests that the variant is unlikely to provide a strong selective advantage in the absence of phosphine fumigation.     

谷蠹和米象对磷化氢抗性遗传的研究

本文就谷蠹Rhyzopertha dominica 和米象Sitophilus oryzae对磷化氢的抗性遗传进行了研究,分别对两个种的实验室敏感品系和粮仓现场采集的抗性品系作为亲本进行杂交。同时测定了各自的亲本及其F₁杂种、F₁对抗性亲本回交和F2混交后代的剂量-死亡率反应曲线,并对它们的结果进行了遗传分析。结果指出,谷蠹和米象的F₁杂种对磷化氢的抗性遗传都为不完全隐性,各自的显性度(D)分别是-0.768和-0.348。同时F₁,回交和F₂混交的观察值和计算值之间的X²分析也表明,抗性表现为一个以上的常染色体因子遗传,但是主要是受隐性因子所控制。     

RESISTANCE TO GRAIN PROTECTANTS AND PHOSPHINE IN COLEOPTEROUS PESTS OF GRAIN STORED ON FARMS IN NEW SOUTH WALES

Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), T. confusum Jacquelin du Val, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), S. granarius (L.), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) and Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) were collected from farms in grain-growing areas in southern and northern N.S.W. and bioassayed for resistance to the grain protectants malathion, fenitrothion, bioresmethrin, carbaryl, pirimiphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos-methyl and the fumigant phosphine.
Results showed that resistance on farms in N.S.W. is similar to resistance reported elsewhere in Australia's grain handling system during the past decade. The only new resistance of practical significance was detected in O. surinamensis where 50% of populations were resistant to fenitrothion (maximum R.F. 68.4x). Fenitrothion resistance was uncommon or not detected in other species. Pirimiphos-methyl resistance was detected in 70% of O. surinamensis populations (maximum RF 44.2x) and in 1 population of T. castaneum (maximum RF 3.1x). Resistance to chlorpyrifos-methyl was detected in 39% of the O. surinamensis populations (maximum RF 8.4x), the only species tested. Low level phosphine resistance was detected in all species (maximum RF 2.2x). Malathion resistance was detected in all species except S. granarius . Resistance to bioresmethrin and carbaryl was not detected in R. dominica , the only species tested.     

Genetic linkage analysis of the lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica identifies two loci that confer high-level resistance to the fumigant phosphine

High levels of inheritable resistance to phosphine in Rhyzopertha dominica have recently been detected in Australia and in an effort to isolate the genes responsible for resistance we have used random amplified DNA fingerprinting (RAF) to produce a genetic linkage map of R. dominica. The map consists of 94 dominant DNA markers with an average distance between markers of 4.6 cM and defines nine linkage groups with a total recombination distance of 390.1 cM. We have identified two loci that are responsible for high-level resistance. One provides approximately 50x resistance to phosphine while the other provides 12.5x resistance and in combination, the two genes act synergistically to provide a resistance level 250x greater than that of fully susceptible beetles. The haploid genome size has been determined to be 4.76 x 10(8) bp, resulting in an average physical distance of 1.2 Mbp per map unit. No recombination has been observed between either of the two resistance loci and their adjacent DNA markers in a population of 44 fully resistant F5 individuals, which indicates that the genes are likely to reside within 0.91 cM (1.1 Mbp) of the DNA markers.     

Major biogeographic barriers in eastern Australia have shaped the population structure of widely distributed Eucalyptus moluccana and its putative subspecies

We have investigated the impact of recognized biogeographic barriers on genetic differentiation of grey box (Eucalyptus moluccana), a common and widespread tree species of the family Myrtaceae in eastern Australian woodlands, and its previously proposed four subspecies moluccana, pedicellata, queenslandica, and crassifolia. A range of phylogeographic analyses were conducted to examine the population genetic differentiation and subspecies genetic structure in E. moluccana in relation to biogeographic barriers. Slow evolving markers uncovering long term processes (chloroplast DNA) were used to generate a haplotype network and infer phylogeographic barriers. Additionally, fast evolving, hypervariable markers (microsatellites) were used to estimate demographic processes and genetic structure among five geographic regions (29 populations) across the entire distribution of E. moluccana. Morphological features of seedlings, such as leaf and stem traits, were assessed to evaluate population clusters and test differentiation of the putative subspecies. Haplotype network analysis revealed twenty chloroplast haplotypes with a main haplotype in a central position shared by individuals belonging to the regions containing the four putative subspecies. Microsatellite analysis detected the genetic structure between Queensland (QLD) and New South Wales (NSW) populations, consistent with the McPherson Range barrier, an east‐west spur of the Great Dividing Range. The substructure was detected within QLD and NSW in line with other barriers in eastern Australia. The morphological analyses supported differentiation between QLD and NSW populations, with no difference within QLD, yet some differentiation within NSW populations. Our molecular and morphological analyses provide evidence that several geographic barriers in eastern Australia, including the Burdekin Gap and the McPherson Range have contributed to the genetic structure of E. moluccana. Genetic differentiation among E. moluccana populations supports the recognition of some but not all the four previously proposed subspecies, with crassifolia being the most differentiated.     

Diagnostic Molecular Markers for Phosphine Resistance in U.S. Populations of Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica

Stored product beetles that are resistant to the fumigant pesticide phosphine (hydrogen phosphide) gas have been reported for more than 40 years in many places worldwide. Traditionally, determination of phosphine resistance in stored product beetles is based on a discriminating dose bioassay that can take up to two weeks to evaluate. We developed a diagnostic cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence method, CAPS, to detect individuals with alleles for strong resistance to phosphine in populations of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, and the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica, according to a single nucleotide mutation in the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLD) gene. We initially isolated and sequenced the DLD genes from susceptible and strongly resistant populations of both species. The corresponding amino acid sequences were then deduced. A single amino acid mutation in DLD in populations of T. castaneum and R. dominica with strong resistance was identified as P45S in T. castaneum and P49S in R. dominica, both collected from northern Oklahoma, USA. PCR products containing these mutations were digested by the restriction enzymes MboI and BstNI, which revealed presence or absence, respectively of the resistant (R) allele and allowed inference of genotypes with that allele. Seven populations of T. castaneum from Kansas were subjected to discriminating dose bioassays for the weak and strong resistance phenotypes. Application of CAPS to these seven populations confirmed the R allele was in high frequency in the strongly resistant populations, and was absent or at a lower frequency in populations with weak resistance, which suggests that these populations with a low frequency of the R allele have the potential for selection of the strong resistance phenotype. CAPS markers for strong phosphine resistance will help to detect and confirm resistant beetles and can facilitate resistance management actions against a given pest population.     

Synergized bifenthrin plus chlorpyrifos-methyl for control of beetles and psocids in sorghum in Australia

The efficacy of bifenthrin (0.5 mg/kg) + piperonyl butoxide (7 mg/kg) + chlorpyrifosmethyl (10 mg/kg) against beetle and psocid pests of sorghum was evaluated in silo-scale trials in southeast Queensland, Australia. The pyrethroid bifenthrin was evaluated as a potential new protectant in combination with the organophosphate chlorpyrifos-methyl, which is already registered for control of several insect pests of stored cereals. Sorghum (approximately 200 metric tons) was treated after both the 1999 and 2000 harvests and sampled at intervals to assess treatment efficacy and residue decline during up to 7 mo of storage. Generally, test strains of the beetles Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L), and Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) were prevented from producing live progeny for up to 7 mo. The treatment failed against one strain of R. dominica known to be resistant to bioresmethrin and organophosphates. Two malathion-resistant strains of O. surinamensis were marginally controlled with 94-100% fewer adult progeny produced. For psocids, no strains of Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, Liposcelis decolor (Pearman), or Liposcelis paeta Pearman produced live progeny, although the control of a field strain of Liposcelis entomophila (Enderlein) was generally poor. Results show that this treatment should protect sorghum for at least 7 mo against most prevalent strains of grain insect in eastern Australia, although control may be limited in areas in which L. entomophila or pyrethroid-resistant R. dominica are present.     

Postharvest resistance in hard spring and winter wheat varieties of the northern Great Plains to the lesser grain borer (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varietal resistance to the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F), was evaluated in hard spring and winter wheat produced 1997, 1998 (Bozeman, Montana). We tested the hypothesis that six Montana-grown spring wheat varieties, 'Ernest', 'Scholar', 'Hi-Line', 'McNeal', 'Newana', and 'Amidon', were equally and strongly resistant to R. dominica at low moisture contents (9-10%). Mortality/Feeding damage occurred in all varieties. In most assays, Ernest had significantly greater feeding damage from R. dominica than other varieties, usually not significantly different from the susceptible control. Mean adult mortality was significantly greater in McNeal (93%) and Hi-Line (92%) than in Ernest (34%) and Montana-grown, soft white spring wheat (Penawawa), the susceptible control (36%). In 9 wk, twice as many adult progeny were produced on Ernest than on McNeal, Hi-Line, or Scholar. We also compared three Montana-grown winter wheat varieties for resistance to R. dominica attack at low moisture contents (9-10%). Significantly more mortality after 6 wk was associated with all winter wheat varieties than the susceptible control. In 'Nuwest', 'Rocky', and 'Vanguard', significantly fewer progeny were produced than in the susceptible control; these varieties appeared more resistant. 'Tiber' and 'Neeley', in contrast, appeared more susceptible than other winter wheat varieties evaluated. Susceptibility decreased significantly with a 1.2% decrease in moisture content. Percentage of total protein was positively correlated with percentage of sound kernels and negatively with total progeny (r2 = -0.69). Kernel hardness was positively correlated with percentage of sound kernels, but negatively correlated with total progeny (r2 = -0.87) and dry weight loss.