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Abstract
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The two-spotted spider mite (TSM), Tetranychus urticae, is one of the most important pests of strawberry. The chemical control of spider mites is becoming increasingly difficult because of the rising resistance of spider mites combined with the decreasing number of registered chemicals. Therefore, the use of resistant cultivars is one strategy to help improve cultivation with reduced reliance on chemicals. Our study examined the resistance of 10 strawberry cultivars (Selva, Camarosa, Ventana, Aromas, Paroos, Queen Eliza, Carsin Berg, Frezno, Pajaro and Kurdistan) to TSM and correlated this to their morphological characteristics and chemical components that are thought to confer resistance. We used the thumbtack method, a non-preference test, to quickly determine the most resistant cultivars. In addition, the density of glandular and non-glandular trichomes, and the amount of total phenol, were compared and the correlation between these parameters in relationship to each other and their effect on resistance was assessed. We found that TSM avoids moving on the cultivars with denser glandular trichomes and higher amount of total phenol. Overall, among the 10 studied cultivars, Ventana and Aromas were identified as the most resistant, Selva and Paroos as the most sensitive, and the rest were the intermediate cultivars.
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