<p>Since plants can not escape their predators by walking, they use some other defense systems, like induction or repression of defense genes. A microarray experiment performed with barley attacked by the bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi), led to the hypothesis that contig 16360 (similar to ser/thr kinases) could be linked with the resistance of barley against R. padi, and contig 6519 (similar to WIR 1A) with the susceptibility. Time course experiments showed that contig16360 and AJ250283 (similar to BCI-4) are almost induced in the same way, each, by two different aphids (R. padi and Metopolophium dirhodum). Genomic PCR was used to test the hypothesis that when plants have the gene for contig 16360, they are more likely to be resistant against aphid attack, and when plants have the gene for contig 6519, they are more likely to be susceptible. This test was performed with 69 barley lines: wild, commercial or breeding lines. Results were that the presence of WIR 1A gene has no correlation with the susceptibility, while presence of ser/thr kinase seems to be correlated with resistance.</p>

Since plants can not escape their predators by walking, they use some other defense systems, like induction or repression of defense genes. A microarray experiment performed with barley attacked by the bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi), led to the hypothesis that contig 16360 (similar to ser/thr kinases) could be linked with the resistance of barley against R. padi, and contig 6519 (similar to WIR 1A) with the susceptibility. Time course experiments showed that contig16360 and AJ250283 (similar to BCI-4) are almost induced in the same way, each, by two different aphids (R. padi and Metopolophium dirhodum). Genomic PCR was used to test the hypothesis that when plants have the gene for contig 16360, they are more likely to be resistant against aphid attack, and when plants have the gene for contig 6519, they are more likely to be susceptible. This test was performed with 69 barley lines: wild, commercial or breeding lines. Results were that the presence of WIR 1A gene has no correlation with the susceptibility, while presence of ser/thr kinase seems to be correlated with resistance.

Master of Science / Entomology / C. Michael Smith / The bird cherry oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi, and one of the viruses it vectors, barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), form a very damaging pest unit on cereals. Understanding how people can better manage crops to prevent damage or recognize environmental or geographic factors that put their crops at risk for BYDV could lead to improved virus aphid management strategies. One of the most successful methods for mitigating pest damage is using pest-resistant varieties of crops. Seven candidate wheat varieties were screened for resistance to R. padi, by testing aphid population densities and aphid host choice. Results of this research identified six varieties of wheat that show resistance to R. padi. One of the major knowledge gaps in BYDV management is forecasting potential damage. Our objective was to create viral presence maps, to start building the foundation of correlations between persistent and changing frequency of viruliferous R. padi. The results of BYDV assays in R. padi in wheat fields across Kansas indicated that the amount of BYDV infection in viruliferous aphids changes rapidly from year to year, and differs considerably between geographic regions and field landscape characteristics in Kansas. Neonicotinoid wheat seed treatment is a management technique that reduces R. padi populations. However, a common question among producers is whether or not seed treatments stop viral transmission. Results of greenhouse seed treatment experiments with plants from neonicotinoid treated and untreated seed infested with viruliferous R. padi indicated no significant difference in viral transmission due to seed treatment. This new information about R. padi wheat varietal resistance, geographic distribution of BYDV in Kansas, and neonicotinoid seed treatment creates a better understanding of aphid-virus-wheat interactions. Results from this thesis directly enhance producer ability to forecast risk from BYDV, select wheat varieties that effectively reduce R. padi as a BYDV vector, and to make better decisions about the use of insecticide to reduce BYDV infection.