Response of Different Wheat Genotypes to Aphids Infestation Under Irrigated and Rainfed Conditions

ids are common wheat and barley pest in many parts of the world including Pakistan. This experiment was conducted at the experimental field of the department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan during 2014-15 and 2015-16. Eight bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties i.e., Atta-Habib (AH), Lalma-13 (Lal-13), Tatara-96 (Tat-96), Punjab-11 (PJ-11), Pirsabak-2005 (PS-05), Pirsabak-2013 (PS-13), Janbaz (JB) and land race Khatakwal (KW) were crossed in 8×8 full diallel pattern to identify aphids resistant genotypes under irrigated and rainfed conditions. Number of aphids tiller-1 revealed highly significant differences (P ≤ 0.01) among the genotypes. Under irrigated condition genotypes PJ-11×Lal-13, Tat-96×Lal-13, JB×Lal-13, AH×PS-05 and PS- 13×Lal-13 were comparatively resistant with low aphids density while genotype PJ-11×PS-05 and KW were most susceptible. Under rainfed condition genotypes JB×Lal-13, PJ-11×Lal-13, AH×PS-05, Tat-96×Lal-13 and PS-13×Lal-13 were comparatively resistant while genotypes PS-05×KW and PS-05 were most susceptible. Comparatively less aphids tiller-1 were observed under irrigated condition in all three scoring dates. Highest aphid’s infestation was recorded on average temperature of 24.8˚C. On the basis of field scoring resistant genotypes were identified which are prerequisite for further molecular and biochemical study to explore resistance pathway. These lines could be used as a source of aphids resistance in future wheat breeding program.