Impacts of externally applied salicylic acid on the vulnerability of wheat seedlings to Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) larvae

The Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) is one of the most destructive pests of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and is a newly emerging pest in North Carolina. Attacks from Hessian fly larvae increase the accumulation of salicylic acid (SA) during an incompatible interaction, but not during a compatible interaction. In the current study, we infested ‘Newton’, a Hessian fly susceptible wheat genotype with a virulent Hessian fly biotype L, and then sprayed SA solution onto the wheat plants after infestation. The objective of this study is to determine if SA, when externally applied to the wheat base, impacts the vulnerability of wheat seedlings during a compatible interaction.