*2.4. Antixenosis Test*

Three eggplant CVS, including 'Long-Green', 'Ravaya' and 'Red-Round' as relatively resistant, and two relatively susceptible CVS, including 'White-Casper' and 'Pearl-Round', were selected for the antixenosis experiment based on the screening test results. Antixenosis test or host preference experiment was performed based on Webster's method [32]. Same height eggplants in the four-leaf stage were randomly selected and arranged in a circle. A circular paper was adjusted to fit the pot and located in its middle so that each plant was out of the paper from the stem. Then, 50 aphids were placed in the center of the paper, and the number of aphids on each CV. was counted after 24, 48, and 72 h. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with five replications for each cultivar in the growth chamber at 25 ± 5 ◦C, 60 ± 10% RH, and 16: 8 Light: Dark (L:D) photoperiod. Therefore, in total we used 25 plants in the experiments.
