Genetic Resource of the Resistance of Vicia faba L. against the Black Bean Aphid, Aphis fabae Scopoli

Abstract

The Black bean aphid Aphis fabae Scopoli (Homoptera: Aphididae) is a serious pest of faba bean, Vicia faba L. (Fabaceae) in Algeria. The use of resistant cultivars may reduce the impact of this pest on broad bean production and at the same time reduce environmental risks and control costs. The level of resistance of fourteen cultivars of broad bean, Vicia faba was screened in the field against the main aphid pest of faba bean, the Black bean aphid, Aphis fabae Scopoli during January to April 2011 in Biskra region (in the east of Algeria). Among the cultivars tested, six cultivars (1, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 15) were the most resistant in the three counts, while three cultivars (4, 6 and 11) were showed a high susceptibility against this aphid at least once. The remainder of cultivars (3, 5, 7, 8 and 10) revealed an unsettled level of resistance. The relationship between the level of resistance and morphological characters of cultivars indicated that the resistant cultivars have a longer leaflet than the high susceptible cultivars. In the other hand, the statistical analysis showed that no significant differences on the plant height and the leaflet width in the tow category of cultivars (resistant and high susceptible).