SUSCEPTIBILITIES OF SPECIES AND CULTIVARS AND CANOLA AND MUSTARD TO INFESTATION BY ROOT MAGGOTS (DELIA SPP) (DIPTERA, ANTHOMYIIDAE)

Four species of Cruciferae [canola species Brassica rapa L. and Brassica napus L., and mustard species Brassica juncea (L.) and Sinapis alba L.], and various cultivars of each species, were evaluated for susceptibilities to infestation by Delia spp. (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) under field conditions in central Alberta, Canada. Susceptibility was measured throughout the season by recording numbers of eggs of Delia spp. laid on or near individual plants, and at the end of the season by a semi-quantitative determination of injury inflicted by larvae on taproots. Differences in susceptibility occurred among and within canola and mustard species. Plants of B. rapa were most susceptible to Delia spp.; both mean eggs perplant and mean damage ratings per plant on B. rapa significantly exceeded those of all other species studied. Intermediate susceptibility was observed for plants of B. napus and B. juncea; plants of S. alba were least susceptible. In general, differences in susceptibility were greater among species than among cultivars within species. Root damage generally correlated with oviposition among and within species, suggesting that the mechanism of resistance by cruciferous species to infestation by Delia spp. is antixenosis or nonpreference. Results of this study indicate that canola growers in regions infested annually by high population densities of Delia spp. should seed B. napus or B.juncea rather than B. rapa. However, if a short growing season necessitates seeding B. rapa, then growers should select the more resistant cultivars of this species.