Populations of Alfalfa Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) on Different Alfalfa Cultivars

Abstract

Populations of alfalfa weevil, Hypera variabilis (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and aphids were evaluated on 12 alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. cultivars in 2002 and 2003. The cultivars used included MA-324, MA-414, MA-525, P-5693, Gara, Desica, Kayseri, Hemedan, Prosementi, Bilensoy, Prista and Elci. There were no significant differences among the weevil populations on different alfalfa cultivars in any of the years. Aphids were more abundant (p<0.05) on Kayseri cultivar in both years, on Bilensoy only in 2002 and on MA-324, Hemedan and Elci in 2003. Under the current pest pressure and ecological conditions, MA-324, MA-414, MA-525, Desica and Elci cultivars that provided higher (p<0.05) yields than most of the cultivars seemed more promising in forage production. © 2006 Academic Journals Inc.