*Article* **Evaluation of the Susceptibility of Some Eggplant Cultivars to Green Peach Aphid,** *Myzus persicae* **(Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)**

**Zienab Raeyat 1, Jabraiel Razmjou 1,\*, Bahram Naseri 1, Asgar Ebadollahi 2 and Patcharin Krutmuang 3,4,\***


**Abstract:** Due to the detrimental side-effects of synthetic pesticides, the use of nonchemical strategies in the managemen<sup>t</sup> of insect pests is necessary. In the present study, the susceptibility of fourteen eggplant cultivars to green peach aphid (*M. persicae*) were investigated. According to preliminary screening tests, 'Long-Green', 'Ravaya' and 'Red-Round' as relatively resistant, and 'White-Casper' and 'Pearl-Round' as susceptible cultivars were recognized. In the antixenosis tests, the highest hosting preference was documented for 'White-Casper'. Population growth parameters were used for evaluation of antibiosis. The highest and lowest developmental time (d) was observed on 'Long-Green' (4.33 d) and 'White-Casper' (3.26 d), respectively. The highest and lowest intrinsic rates of population increase (rm) were on 'White-Casper' (0.384 <sup>d</sup>−1) and 'Long-Green' (0.265 <sup>d</sup>−1), respectively. Significant differences were observed in the height and fresh and dry weight of infested and noninfected plants. Plant resistance index (PRI), as a simplified way to assess all resistance mechanisms, provides a particular value to determine the proper resistant cultivar. The greatest PRI value was observed on 'Long-Green'. In general, the 'Long-Green' showed the least, and the 'White-Casper' displayed the most susceptibility among tested cultivars infested by *M. persicae*, which might be useful in integrated managemen<sup>t</sup> of this pest.

**Keywords:** antibiosis; antixenosis; tolerance; eggplant cultivars; green peach aphid
