Resistance of faba bean, Vicia faba, to Bruchus dentipes Baudi (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Abstract

Field screening experiments for resistance of faba bean (Vicia faba) to Bruchus dentipes Baudi in Syria between 1982 and 1985 involved about 1000 accessions and indicated that only phenological resistance was present. Two accessions were chosen, on the basis of seed infestation with larvae, for further study. The two accessions (BPL33 and ILB1814) were tested against natural infestations as well as under four levels of bruchid infestation and at two different times of release of adults. BPL 33 maintained its resistance (about 50%) in relation to ILB1814 under these different conditions, except when adults were released at a time when both accessions carried pods simultaneously. This confirms that the resistance of BPL33 was phenological, related to late flowering and late pod setting. An intergrated control approach is there fore suggested.