Testing for Tolerance to Aphids in Indian Mustard, Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss.

Brassica juncea plants were screened for aphid tolerance using three methods. Seven and 14 days old seedlings grown in wooden trays in a glasshouse were kept between infector trays with heavy aphid infestation. There were no surviving plants in the susceptible genotypes 50 days after sowing but survival rates ranging between 80 and 90 % were observed for selection 44. The progenies of the surviving plants were tested under natural infestation in the field. Plants were scored for leaves without aphids 40 days after sowing, healthy plants at harvest and seed yield in g/m² For most of these lines, the aphids’ survival, life span and fecundity (nymphs produced per adult) were recorded after introducing five newly-born nymphs on excised fifth leaves cultured in petri dishes. Selections showing greater tolerance to aphids than the check cultivars were identified in the progenies of a cross RLM-514 × T-6342. It was concluded that the excised leaf method can provide a reliable measure of the lines’ reaction to aphids.