Sensitivity and qualitative changes in faba bean accessions influenced by black bean aphid

Ivelina Nikolova

Abstract: The identification of low-sensitive accessions to aphid species has become an important subject of research and their use may increase plant production and reduce environmental pollution and control costs. Therefore, the present study aimed to present faba bean accessions that were less preferred by Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hemiptera, Aphididae) and to assess the qualitative plant changes affected by aphids. The field study was carried out at the Institute of Forage Crops (Pleven) from 2016 to 2018 with 12 Vicia faba L. accessions, and aphid infestation was assessed by recording the aphid number per plant at the pod formation stage. It was found the faba bean accession Fb 3270, followed by BGE 029055 had the lowest density of black bean aphids and were defined as very low sensitivity. The trend was similar for medium-sensitive BGE 002106. The Fb 3270, BGE 002106 and BGE 029055 accessions had significantly lower nitrogen concentration and plastid pigments, while crude fibre content was considerably higher. Aphis fabae infestation significantly changed the chemical content of plants leading to a reduction of the nitrogen, crude fibre, and plastid pigments in response to aphid injury. The reduction in nitrogen (6.9 and 8.6%) and fibre content (8.0 and 8.5%), as well as plastid pigments (9.7 and 13.1%), was the least pronounced in very low sensitive accessions (Fb 3270 and BGE 029055, respectively). Accessions having a low aphid preference and minor quality changes can be included in future breeding programmes to improve resistance to A. fabae.

Keywords: Aphis fabae; chemical change; sensitivity; Vicia faba accessions

Citation: Nikolova, I. (2024). Sensitivity and qualitative changes in faba bean accessions influenced by black bean aphid. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 30(4), 580–585

Date published: 2024-08-27