Scientists Decode Wheat Gene Against Hessian Fly

USDA researchers identified H13, a wheat gene that protects some varieties from Hessian fly larvae, which cause about $100 million in annual U.S. harvest damage.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Life Sciences

Golden wheat stalks in a flat open field under a pale sky, with low sunlight casting long shadows across the stubble. — USDA researchers decoded H13, a wheat gene that protects some varieties from Hessian fly larvae, which cause about $100 million in annual U.S. harvest damage. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Researchers with the USDA Agricultural Research Service decoded the wheat gene H13, which protects some wheat varieties from Hessian fly larvae. The discovery was reported in the August issue of Science Advances.

Why it matters

Hessian fly larvae cause about $100 million in annual U.S. wheat harvest damage, and sequencing H13 gives breeders a concrete tool to develop more resistant varieties. The finding could help speed up efforts to protect the nation's wheat supply.

The gene was mapped to wheat's 42 chromosomes using radiation hybrid mapping, and H13 is the first sequenced insect resistance gene in wheat. Researchers narrowed nine candidate genes before identifying H13, though the study does not address how the gene performs across all field conditions.

The players

USDA Agricultural Research Service

The federal research agency that led the decoding of the H13 wheat gene and operates the West Lafayette, Indiana research unit involved in the work.

Kansas State University

A public research university whose researcher Gill served as co-lead on the H13 study.

The details

H13 was first mapped genetically almost four decades ago, and the research team combined radiation hybrid mapping with DNA marker regions to pinpoint it on the chromosome. Transferring H13 into susceptible plants made them resistant to Hessian fly, while inactivating it in resistant plants made them susceptible.

August: Discovery reported in the August issue of Science Advances.
Almost four decades ago: H13 was first mapped genetically by Gill.

Big Picture

H13 is the first sequenced insect resistance gene in wheat, extending the USDA Agricultural Research Service's wheat resistance program into genomic tools that could make breeding faster. The approach builds on decades of genetic mapping work that began when H13 was first identified almost four decades ago.

Speed-breeding could cut the development timeline for new wheat varieties from eight to 10 years down to two to four years. Stacking multiple resistance genes is expected to provide more durable protection against several pests and diseases.

The takeaway

Gene sequencing gives plant breeders a faster route to pest-resistant wheat than traditional methods. The H13 discovery shows how decades-old genetic mapping can yield practical tools for protecting the national food supply.