Wheat breeding for resistance to the Sunn pest (Eurygaster spp.): Does risk occur?

Abstract

Wheat is among the most valuable daily foodstuff items. However, it induces allergies or celiac dis ease in approximately 1 out of 100 persons, most often in children. In many regions, harmful Sunn bugs con siderably reduce crop yield and grain quality. Climate warming provides favorable conditions for the expan sion of the geographic range of these bugs and "enhances their harmfulness." There are two major approaches to tackling this problem: genetic protection of the plant itself and genetic protection of the seed, i.e., the prog eny. The former approach appears to be less risky to human health. Wheat requires protection against Sunn bugs that impairs neither the gluten rheology nor the nutritional value of the grain. The basic method is the development of an integrated system for controlling bugs that would include, in addition to technological, biological, and chemical methods, genetic protection. Taken together, these components allow the cultiva tion of environmentally safe wheat. It is also relevant to develop wheat cultivars with reduced contents of allergy and celiac disease determinants.

Analyzing Sunn pest resistance in bread wheat genotypes using phenotypic characteristics and molecular markers

“…The chemical control of Sunn pest is costly, hazardous for humans and the environment and has detrimental side effects for predator insects. The use of Sunn pest resistant wheat genotypes has the potential to reduce crop losses (Krupnov 2012). Therefore, the best sustainable, safe and cost effective method for controlling this insect pest is plant resistance (El Bouhssini et al 2009;Hossaini et al 2009;El Bouhssini et al 2013).…”

Mechanical test suitable for detection of bug-damage wheat grains abstract

“…Wheat is a very valuable food product: it is richer than rice in protein (by 1.5-2 times), much of it is presented with unique viscoelastic gluten (Krupnov 2011). The major wheat product is bread.…”

“…Pests are the most important factors that lead to a decreasing efficiency and quality of baked bread. In the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa, as well as East and South-eastern Europe, Sunn pest causes great harm to crops and the grain quality of wheat (Krupnov 2011). Sunn pest causes severe quantitative and qualitative damage by feeding on leaves, stems and wheat grains.…”