Trichomes of Lycopersicon spp. and their effect on Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

The green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) is becoming resistant to many of the pesticides used in the tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) industry. A potential alternative method of control is host-plant resistance, which may be mediated by trichomes. Resistance to the green peach aphid was assessed for six accessions of L. hirsutum, three of L. pennellii and a L. esculentum control. Mortality, entrapment and number of aphids unaffected by trichomes were recorded 24, 48 and 72 h after placement. Using multiple regression against counts of glandular and non-glandular trichomes, the role of foliar pubescence in resistance to the aphid was established. Lycopersicon pennellii possessed the highest level of resistance after 72 h and type IV trichome density accounted for 26.5% of variance in mortality (P < 0.001). Low densities of type IV and high densities of type VII trichomes increased the number of aphids ‘unaffected’ by trichomes, a relationship accounting for 29% of variance (P < 0.001). Information on which types of trichomes most strongly affect resistance to insect pests will aid future breeding and L. pennellii shows potential for use in breeding programs to increase levels of host-plant resistance in L. esculentum.