Assessing plant resistance of rice varieties against the rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax, in Texas

The rice stink bug (RSB), Oebalus pugnax, is a late season rice pest in the southern US. RSBs feed upon the rice panicle resulting in pecky rice and has led to economic losses. Control for the rice stink bug is dependent on insecticides, leading to issues affecting non-target organisms and insecticidal resistance within present populations. This calls for different control methods to offset these detrimental effects. One strategy would be to utilize host plant resistance by incorporating resistant varieties against RSB. To assess the varietal resistance a choice assay was conducted over a 7-day period using four conventional varieties (Cheniere, Jupiter, Presidio, and PVL-03). Female habitation was measured at 30, 60, and 120 minutes after infestation and indicated a habitation preference for Jupiter. Egg clusters were then recorded at the 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th day after infestation which the data may point to an ovipositional preference for PVL-03. These results will provide knowledge on which varieties show resistance or susceptibility against the RSB. Such information can be used by growers to reduce RSB pressure and by rice breeders to help incorporate resistance traits into breeding projects.