Association of Epicuticular Sugars with Aphid Resistance in Hybrids with Wild Tomato

Abstract

Behavioral studies have shown that aphid resistance in Lycopersicon pennellii (Corr.) D'Arcy is due to the presence of sugar esters in glandular exudate of the type IV trichomes. In this study, various methods for the estimation of epicuticular sugar ester concentrations were examined. There was a significant negative relationship between the concentration of sugar esters on the leaf and the level of potato aphid infestation in a segregating L. esculentum × L. pannellii F₂ population. Selection for sugar ester accumulation should be an efficient selection technique for the aphid resistance of L. pennellii and other species that synthesize epicuticular sugar esters.