RESISTANCE OF MELON ACCESSIONS TO LEAFMINER Liriomyza spp. (DIPTERA: AGROMYZIDAE)

The leafminer is the major pest of melon in the Brazilian Northeast. Within a program of integrated pest management using genetic resistance is a method of easy adoption, ecological and provides cost reduction with application of pesticides. The objective of this study was to evaluate the resistance of melon accessions to leafminer. Twenty-two accessions and three hybrids were evaluated in greenhouse and in two experiments under field conditions. The accessions were evaluated with multiple-choice in a design lattice with five replications for the following traits: number of larvae, number of puparium, and number of flies. Under field conditions, the accessions were evaluated in two experiments carried out during 2009 and 2010 in randomized complete block design with three replications. The mean number of mines per leaf was evaluated. There is variability among accessions of melon for resistance to leafminer in the accessions evaluated. Considering the experiments carried out in the greenhouse and field, the accession AC-22 is the most promising as a source of resistance to leafminer evaluations in the field and greenhouse, followed by accession AC-10. The other accessions are susceptible.