Breeding and Characterization of Thrips Resistance in Cabbage

Abstract

Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) are a major pest of the cabbage industry in New York State and the northeast, largely due to the ineffectiveness of chemical control. Host plant resistance is the most effective defense against thrips damage, but it is difficult to evaluate even with labor-intensive screening. Recent screens for thrips damage have identified varieties with high levels of thrips resistance, this resistance needs to be characterized in order to maximize the benefit of host plant resistance in new varieties and breed this resistance into varieties of different maturities.