Host Plant Resistance to Green Peach Aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzar), by Some Wild Types of Watermelon

Authors: BROWN, JONATHAN - Claflin University; Simmons, Alvin; MAHROOF, RIZANA - South Carolina State University; OGBUJI, KELECHI - Claflin University; MCCUTCHEON, GLORIA - Claflin University; Levi, Amnon; Jackson, D; SHEPARD, B - Clemson University

Submitted to: Undergraduate Research Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/3/2009
Publication Date: 10/9/2009
Citation: Brown, J.L., Simmons, A.M., Mahroof, R., Ogbuji, K., Mccutcheon, G.S., Levi, A., Jackson, D.M., Shepard, B.M. 2009. Host Plant Resistance to Green Peach Aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzar), by Some Wild Types of Watermelon. Undergraduate Research Symposium. Abstracts of the Annual Science and Engineering Research Conference, Allen University, Columbia, SC, October 9, 2009.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzar), is an important pest of many vegetable crops. It damages crops by feeding and vectoring viruses. Potential sources of plant resistance against M. persicae were examined for watermelon. A multiple choice experiment was conducted with leaves of six wild types (Citrullus colocynthis) and a cultivated watermelon (C. lanatus var. lanatus; Mickeylee) in a cage arena with aphids. Direct observations were made on aphid dispersal among the leaves. The results show that the highest numbers of aphids were found on PI 386024 and the lowest numbers were found on PI 595203. Thus, relative to cultivar Mickeylee, the most resistant and least resistant wild types for aphid preference were observed as PI 595203 and PI 386024, respectively. This information suggests that certain plant types of C. colocynthis may be useful for developing resistance in watermelon against M. persicae.