Accelerated introgression of host plant resistance to carrot fly into elite carrot varieties

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The aim of this project is to accelerate introgression of resistance to carrot fly into elite carrot varieties. The development of effective and durable forms of host plant resistance in edible crops is a key method of enhancing crop productivity, meeting new and existing EU regulations with regard to pesticide use and reducing the environmental impact of crop production in the UK and more widely through a reduction in pesticide residues, a reduction in energy use to manufacture and apply pesticides and a reduction in pre-farmgate waste as a result of pest damage. Carrot is a staple vegetable crop in which the UK can be virtually self-sufficient and which is a component of a healthy diet though a number of uses. At present carrot fly is controlled with broad spectrum pyrethroid insecticides and although there is little risk to human health through residues, pyrethroids are toxic to a wide range of non-target species including beneficial insects such as bees and pest predators. There is already evidence of polygenic partial resistance to carrot fly, the result of research at Warwick HRI, and this has been incorporated into a small number of commercial varieties. However, this resistance is insufficient to make a major contribution to a reduction in pesticide use at present.The overall goal of this project is to improve carrot quality by increasing crop quality, reducing crop waste and the adverse impacts of pesticides on the environment.Host plant resistance is the best way of reducing pesticide usage without increasing other environmental costs (e.g. through physical barriers, mechanical methods). Reduces in field waste get better yield per unit input.The investigation of new approaches in research and breeding should give a better picture of the relationship between the carrot fly and the crop and should increase the speed of introgression of host plant resistance into elite lines.