Nonhost Kitaake rice displays phenotypic characteristics of host resistant wheat and molecular biomarkers of both resistant and susceptible wheat in response to feeding by Hessian fly larvae

The Hessian fly causes severe economic losses in host wheat. genome complexity of hexaploid wheat makes functional characterization candidate defense genes extremely challenging. Kitaake rice, a model and simpler genome, exhibits responses resembling nonhost resistance to fly. Larvae feeding on rice plants do not develop beyond first-instars similar resistant wheat, although, they show prolonged survival. differs from Brachypodium, where some larvae into second-instars. exhibit molecular response only but also susceptible for six fly-responsive biomarker assayed. Further, Kitaake, lectins secondary metabolites may play an important role early preventing the developing. phenotypic reveals its suitability as surrogate undertaking downstream genomics studies that respond larval attack.