Managing on-farm Biosecurity risk in wheat through pre-emptive breeding

Sunn pest and Hessian fly can cause high losses in wheat production. Until now, the main way to fight these biotic disease was by high use of pesticides with impact on the environment and biological diversity. Genetic improvement in wheat resistance can ensure production increment with a reduction in pesticides uses.

Development of molecular makers for Sunn pest and sent to AUstralia for phenotypic genotyping. Phenotypic characterization of 150 Australian wheat varieties for resistance to Sunn pest and Hessian fly. Phenotyping fot pests will be done at ICARDA's experimental sites in Lebanon and Morocco under greenhouse and field conditions. Evaluate twenty-one (21) SHW genotypes resistant to Sunn pest. Gene introgression of EPP gene resistence into Australian genetic wheat background. Phenotyping for SUnn pest resistence. Go/no-go decision dependent on results achieved. Develop doubled haploid (DH) line BC₂F₁ hybrids in order to fix favourable allelic combinations and supply genotypes carrying single and multiple resistence to EPP. Phenotyping for Hessian fly resistence.

In Australia, thanks to similar environmental characteristic with already mentioned country, after gene introgression in Australian elite varieties, the best genotypes will be selected. The benefit will be mainly at economic, social and environmental level. The new varieties will contribute to help farmers having constant harvest and reduce food risks caused by biotic stresses. The reduction of losses will revitalize rural communities and minimize rural to urban migration. The use of resistant genotypes will result in less application of fungicides, pesticides and insecticides by farmers. These will protect the environment and enhance generation of biological diversity.