Potential sources of genetic resistance in Lactuca spp. to the lettuce aphid, Nasanovia ribisnigri (Mosely) (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

Lettuce aphid, Nasanovia ribisnigri (Mosely) (Homoptera: Aphididae), is an economically important pest of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). High-level resistance found in a wild relative, Lactuca virosa L. accession PIVT 280, is conditioned by the Nr gene, which has been transferred to European cultivars and is being commercially transferred to U.S.-adapted cultivars. New sources of resistance to guard against possible resistance-breaking strains of lettuce aphid were sought in a greenhouse screening of 1203 accessions of lettuce, which included 1047 accessions of L. sativa L., seven accessions of Lactuca perennis L., 18 accessions of Lactuca saligna L., 125 accessions of L. serriola L., and six accessions of L. virosa L. Two new and potentially unique sources of resistance to lettuce aphid were found in L. serriola accession PI 491093 and L. virosa accession PI 274378. The genetic relationship of resistance in PI 491093 and PI 274378 with that in PIVT 280 remains to be determined.