SUSCEPTIBILITY OF SOME INTRODUCED SWEET CHERRY CULTIVARS TO THE ATTACKS OF BLACK CHERRY APHIDS MYZUS CERASI FAB. (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE)

The black cherry aphids Myzus cerasi Fab. (Homptera: Aphididae) are one of the most widely spread and harmful types of leaf aphids in cherry (Prunus avium) in Bulgaria.
The aim of this research was to study and compare the susceptibility of 10 cherry cultivars to the attacks of the black cherry aphid – Myzus cerasi Fab.
The study was carried out in a 6-year-old collection cherry orchard of the Fruit Growing Institute – Plovdiv during the period 2005-2007. The observations were carried out in the first half of May when the leaf aphid colonies were abundant. 100 leaf rosettes from 5 trees per cultivar were examined at random to detect the infestation rate of the pest.
The leaf rosettes with aphids were sampled to estimate the aphid density and they were classified into a seven-degree scale according to the level of aphid infestation on the leaf rosettes.
Data were analyzed by a multiple range test (with conf. int. of 95%). The examined cultivars were divided in different classes of susceptibility to M. cerasi depending on the estimated index of aphid infestation on leaf rosettes.
None on the studied cultivars demonstrated complete resistance.
Out of 10 investigated cherry cultivars 5 were slightly susceptible (‘Katalin’, ‘Summit’, ‘Hudson’, ‘Sunburst’ and ‘Regina’ on ‘Gisela’ 5 rootstock), 4 cultivars were moderately susceptible (‘Kordia’, ‘Nalina’, ‘Lapins’ and ‘Bigarreau Burlat’ on ‘Gisela’ 5 rootstock and ‘Van’ on Prunus mahaleb and wild cherry rootstocks), while one cultivar was highly susceptible (‘Bigarreau Burlat’ on Р. Mahaleb).

I Balkan Symposium on Fruit Growing

V.A. Arnaudov, K.K. Kolev

Prunus avium, cultivars, Myzus cerasi, attack

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.825.63