Host resistance to pear psylla of breeding program selections and cultivars

Abstract

Twenty-one pear cultivars and breeders' selections with interspecific pedigrees involving Pyrus ussuriensis Max. or P. pyrifolia (Burm.) Nakai crossed with P. communis were assessed for resistance to pear psylla (Cacopsylla pyricola Förster) using a nymphal feeding antixenosis assay. The proportion of nymphs live and present on the plants varied from 0.52 for Purdue 77-73, a P. ussuriensis × P. communis hybrid, to 0.08 for 'Zelinka', a P. communis cultivar from eastern Europe. Two P. ussuriensis × P. communis hybrid selections (NY 10355 and NY 10359) and the P. communis landrace cultivars, Batjarka and Zelinka, were the most resistant to nymphal feeding. NJ B9 T1 T117 may also be a useful source of resistance. The most resistant germplasm should be valuable genetic resources for the breeding of new pear cultivars with resistance to pear psylla.