Resistance in Soybeans to the lvlexican Bean Beetle. I. Sources of Resistance¹

Abstract

World collections of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., maturity groups VII and VIII, were screened for resistance to the Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis Mulsant, in 1968. Twenty‐three selections and five commercial cuhivars were intensively studied in 1969. In the field plants of PI 229358, PI 171451, and PI 227687 were highly resistant. Laboratory forced feeding tests showed that these three lines, were unsatisfactory as food even when no alternate food was available. Of the commercial lines tested ‘Bragg’ and ‘Nela’ demonstrated the least susceptibility.