HOST-PLANT RESISTANCE TO INSECTS IN INTEGRATED PEST-MANAGEMENT IN VEGETABLE CROPS

Host plant resistance to insects (PRI) is an underutilized pest manage ment strategy in vegetable production. Increased pressures to reduce p esticides, and changes in technology now increase the economic viabili ty and probable role of PRI in vegetable pest management. This is refl ected in the relatively recent release of several insect-resistant var ieties and breeding lines. The attention PRI now receives in extension publications is also increasing. There is room to improve research an d extension documentation to assist producers in making better use of the available resistance to insects in vegetable crops. In the short t erm, existing varieties can be screened more extensively and quantitat ive information provided to producers. In the long term, variety speci fic recommendations for the use of chemical controls, and other manage ment tactics in conjunction with PRI will be beneficial. Awareness of varietal susceptibility to insect pests will increase the incentives t o private breeders to eliminate extremely susceptible material from th eir breeding programs. Trends in these directions can already be seen in the industry. Support for the research necessary to exploit PRI in vegetables will be required from public sources, as part of the altern atives to pesticides, and from private breeders and producers who stan d to benefit from the development of variety-specific recommendations and impartial comparison of varieties.