| Since pesticide reduction is a primary goal in the development of sustainable agricultural practices, rutabaga (Brassica napus spp. napobrassica L.) producers in Canada have faced tremendous production losses due to cabbage maggot (Delia radicum L.) infestation, following the deregistration of organophosphorous insecticides. New integrated pest management (IPM) strategies should focus on non-chemical controls such as the development of less susceptible varieties. The two main objectives of this study were fulfilled. First, resistance to cabbage maggot was transferred via canola; and second, a classification test based on metabolic classes, directly responsible for or linked to insect-plant interaction, was established based on 14 HPLC marker peaks. The Area Under the ROC Curve, used for validation of the overall performance of the model, was estimated at 0.8186. This classification test will aid in the rapid identification of more resistant rutabaga breeding lines and fill the existing gap between the IPM and plant breeding. |
