Searching for resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana to the green peach aphid Myzus persicae

Abstract

A simple and fast bioassay technique has been developed to screen Arabidopsis thaliana L. Heyhn. germplasm for aphid resistance. This technique, in a single test, allows for the selection of A. thaliana ecotypes that exhibit antixenosis and/or antibiosis resistance. Adult aphids were released in the center of petri dishes where plant seedlings of six different ecotypes were grown at a time (choice test). After 24 h, aphids and their new-born nymphs were counted in each ecotype. An overall resistance index was determined combining both antixenosis and antibiosis types of resistance. A collection of A. thaliana ecotypes was classified using this type of resistance index