Evidence for Two Soybean Looper Strains in the United States with Limited Capacity for Cross-Hybridization.

The noctuid moth soybean looper (SBL), (Walker) is an economically important pest of soybeans ( (L.) Merr.) in the southeastern United States.

Investigating the Migratory Behavior of Soybean Looper, a Major Pest of Soybean, through Comparisons with the Corn Pest Fall Armyworm Using Mitochondrial Haplotypes and a Sex-Linked Marker.

The Noctuid moth soybean looper (SBL), (Walker), is an economically important pest of soybean ( (Linnaeus) Merrill). Because it is not known to survive freezing winters, permanent populations in the United States are believed to be limited to the southern regions of Texas and Florida, yet its geographical range of infestations annually extend to Canada. This indicates annual migrations of thousands of kilometers during the spring and summer growing season.

QTL analyses for tolerance to abiotic stresses in a common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) population.

Common bean productivity is reduced by several abiotic stress factors like drought and low soil fertility, leading to yield losses particularly in low input smallholder farming systems in the tropics. To understand the genetics of stress tolerance, and to improve adaptation of common bean to adverse environments, the BAT 881 x G21212 population of 95 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was evaluated under different abiotic stress conditions in 15 trials across four locations in Colombia, representing two higher altitude (Darién, Popayán) and two lower altitude (Palmira, Quilichao) locations. Stress vs non-stress treatments showed that yields were reduced in drought trials in Palmira by 13 and 31%, respectively, and observed yield reductions in low phosphorus stress were 39% in Quilichao, 16% in Popayán, and 71% in Darién, respectively.

Inheritance of White Mold Resistance in Phaseolus vulgaris × P. coccineus Crosses.

The fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, cause of white mold, is known to attack >400 plant species. It is a widespread problem in dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in the United States, causing >30% average yield losses. Low to moderate levels of resistance are found in dry bean.

Comparison of Sources and Lines Selected for Drought Resistance in Common Bean.

Drought is a major constraint to common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production worldwide. Our objectives were to (i) identify sources of drought resistant germplasm in common bean cultivars and (ii) compare drought resistant germplasm with lines selected from interracial and intergene pool populations.