Evaluation of the susceptibility of some eggplant cultivars to green peach aphid, myzus persicae (Sulzer) (hemiptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

Due to the detrimental side-effects of synthetic pesticides, the use of nonchemical strategies in the management of insect pests is necessary. In the present study, the susceptibility of fourteen eggplant cultivars to green peach aphid (M. persicae) were investigated. According to preliminary screening tests, ‘Long-Green’, ‘Ravaya’ and ‘Red-Round’ as relatively resistant, and ‘White-Casper’ and ‘Pearl-Round’ as susceptible cultivars were recognized. In the antixenosis tests, the highest hosting preference was documented for ‘White-Casper’. Population growth parameters were used for evaluation of antibiosis. The highest and lowest developmental time (d) was observed on ‘Long-Green’ (4.33 d) and ‘White-Casper’ (3.26 d), respectively. The highest and lowest intrinsic rates of population increase (rm) were on ‘White-Casper’ (0.384 d−1 ) and ‘Long-Green’ (0.265 d−1 ), respectively. Significant differences were observed in the height and fresh and dry weight of infested and noninfected plants. Plant resistance index (PRI), as a simplified way to assess all resistance mechanisms, provides a particular value to determine the proper resistant cultivar. The greatest PRI value was observed on ‘Long-Green’. In general, the ‘Long-Green’ showed the least, and the ‘White-Casper’ displayed the most susceptibility among tested cultivars infested by M. persicae, which might be useful in integrated management of this pest.