Exploring New Sources of Wheat Curl Mite Resistance

Project Summary:

Wheat curl mite (WCM) and its transmitted viruses significantly impact wheat production in the Great Plains. Host plant resistance to WCM is an efficient and sustainable approach to suppress virus transmission and reduce losses of grain yield, forage, and silage. Alien introgression lines are important sources for increasing the genetic diversity of common wheat and for providing novel host plant resistance to both vectors and diseases. With support from entomology, pathology, and physiology, the Texas A&M wheat breeding and genetics team has extensive experience in evaluating and using introgression lines in wheat breeding. In this proposed research, we will screen WGRC introgression lines and other wild relatives that have been utilized in our breeding programs to identify new sources conferring resistance to WCM and deliver resistant adaptive germplasm for wheat breeding in the Great Plains. Our proposal aligns with the WGRC FY26 Priority Area for Arthropod resistance.