Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
(N/A)
Animal Health Component
10%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
80%
Applied
10%
Developmental
10%
Goals / Objectives
The Objective of this research is to identify candidate genes/markers that have the potential to increase the resistance of sweetcorn to various species of silkfly and to test corn derived compounds for their ability to influence silkfly behavior. These insect pests that are a major problem for growers of fresh market sweetcorn in Florida due to both the damage they do to sweetcorn ears and to their high levels of resistance to commercial pesticides.
Project Methods
Data from previous silkfly resistance mapping population trails will be used to identify genes/markers associated with increased silkfly resistance using genome wide association mapping. Candidate genes will be confirmed and tests performed to assess the role/contribution of the genes to silk fly resistance. Polymerase chain reaction based molecular screening protocols will be developed to allow candidate genes to be integrated into elite sweetcorn breeding populations. Sweetcorn volatiles identified from silkfly susceptible corn will be assessed for their attraction to silkfly and potential use in silkfly monitoring.