Curcurbita pepo subspecies delineates striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) preference

• Published in: Horticulture research 2016-06, Vol.3 (1), p.16028-16028, Article 16028
• Main Authors: Brzozowski, L, Leckie, B M, Gardner, J, Hoffmann, M P, Mazourek, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/449/1870; 631/449/711; Agriculture; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Ecology; Life Sciences; Plant Breeding/Biotechnology; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Sciences
• ISSN: 2052-7276; 2052-7276
• DOI: 10.1038/hortres.2016.28

The striped cucumber beetle ( Acalymma vittatum (F.)) is a destructive pest of cucurbit crops, and management could be improved by host plant resistance, especially in organic farming systems. However, despite the variation in striped cucumber beetle preference observed within the economically important species, Cucurbita pepo L., plant breeders and entomologists lacked a simple framework to classify and exploit these differences. This study used recent phylogenetic evidence and bioassays to organize striped cucumber beetle preference within C. pepo . Our results indicate preference contrasts between the two agriculturally relevant subspecies: C. pepo subsp. texana and C. pepo subsp. pepo . Plants of C. pepo subsp. pepo were more strongly preferred than C. pepo subsp. texana plants. This structure of beetle preference in C. pepo will allow plant breeders and entomologists to better focus research efforts on host plant non-preference to control striped cucumber beetles. Plant defense: Beetles prefer pumpkins Herbivorous beetles show strong preferences among cucurbit varieties, suggesting avenues for breeding resistant squashes and pumpkins. The striped cucumber beetle is a major pest of cucurbits such as squashes, pumpkins and melons, but this impact could be reduced by manipulating differences in the palatability of the crop for the beetles. Michael Mazourek and colleagues at Cornell University, USA, found that the beetles strongly preferred zucchini and pumpkin varieties to squashes. Using a 'no-choice bioassay,' in which beetles were presented only with their least and most preferred varieties, the team showed that the beetles fed almost exclusively on the preferred variety. The research suggests potential both for breeding resistant cucurbits, and for 'push-pull' management, in which pests are simultaneously repelled from crops by interplanting highly resistant varieties, and attracted away by nearby plantings of highly susceptible ones.