Effect of certainBrassica plants on biology of the cabbage aphidBrevicoryne brassicae under laboratory conditions

Abstract

The development time, mortality, survivorship and reproduction of the cabbage aphidBrevicoryne brassicae (L.) were evaluated on detached leaves of sixBrassica species (cabbage cv. ‘Yalova 1’, cauliflower cv. ‘Early Snowball’, broccoli cv. ‘Marathon’, turnip cv. ‘Antep’, rapeseed cv. local variety, and wild mustard) at a constant temperature of 20°C. Total development time ofB. brassicae was the shortest (8.9 days) on cauliflower and the longest (10.4 days) on cabbage. Mortality of immature stages varied from 16% on cabbage to 88% on turnip. Longevity of the cabbage aphid was the shortest (6.2 days) on mustard, and the longest (21.8 days) on cauliflower. The net reproductive rate was highest (35.98) on cauliflower, and lowest (1.89) on turnip. The intrinsic rate of increase was 0.2345 on cauliflower, followed by 0.2009 on cabbage, 0.1976 on broccoli, 0.1662 on mustard, 0.1357 on rapeseed, and 0.0465 on turnip. Cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli were susceptible host plants for the cabbage aphid. Rapeseed, turnip and mustard showed resistance to the pest.