Influence of unusual heat stress on resistance of wheat plants to Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) infestation

Environmental factors have significant impacts on resistance of plants to parasites. This study analyzed the development of an avirulent Hessian fly (HF) population on a resistant wheat cultivar "Molly". Molly plants were subjected to six hours of 40°C heat stress at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h post HF larval hatching. We observed that Hessian fly larvae survived and developed on plants treated with heat stress starting at 0, 6 and 12 h, while in the control, all the HF larvae died. In contrast, HF larvae on plants treated with heat stress starting at 24 and 48 h exhibited no difference compared to the control. Lipid profiles are being investigated on wheat plants to identify the molecular mechanisms of the loss of resistance to HF under heat treatment.