Description:
The cabbage whitefly (Aleyrodes proletella) is more and more becoming a problem in growing of cabbage crops in the Netherlands, especially in Brussels sprouts and kale. Chemical insecticides are not effective as whiteflies feed on the underside of leaves. Additionally, from an environmental point of view, the use of chemicals is not desired. In a field experiment performed in 2007 with white cabbage cultivars we found great differences in numbers of whiteflies, ranging from (almost) zero to tens (>50) per plant. This indicates possible differences in resistance within Brassica oleracea. It is not known if these differences are due to preference or to real resistance.
This project will be the starting point of new projects aimed at elucidating the biochemical and molecular background of the observed resistance/preference.
Research objectives:
This project will be the first step in elucidating the biochemical, molecular and genetic background of the observed resistance/preference.
Activities:
1. Carrying out preference tests with individual biochemical components. Candidate components have been identified previously (Poelman et al., 2009).
2. Detailled resistance tests using EPG (electrical penetration graph) to study the feeding behaviour of the whitefly and to locate resistance factors.
3. Produce an F2 population that will form the basis of the genetic analysis of the resistance.
Results and products:
Datasets and and F2 population. |
