Relative susceptibility of thirteen faba bean genotypes compared to local variety Sakha1 to leafhoppers, Empoasca spp. with regard to their associated predators were evaluated at Sakha Agricultural Research Station Farm, Kafr El-Sheikh under two sowing dates (the first week of October and the first week of November) during two growing seasons being 2010/11 and 2011/12.
Judging by the grand mean of leafhoppers of the two successive seasons, statistical analysis revealed insignificant differences among the tested genotypes to the leafhoppers infestation, while there were significant differences for predators attraction for the first date plantation. Genotype H-240A harbored the highest mean number of predators, while the least mean number took place on genotypes H-1972B and H-1973. In respect to the second date plantation, genotypes H-232; H-1992; H-240A; H-1972B and H-230 exhibited the highest mean number of leafhoppers, while genotype H-1973 harbored the least number. The predators recorded the highest mean number on H-230, while H-240B exhibited the least mean number. However, five species of predators (Crysoperla carnea (Steph.); Scymnus interuptus (Goeze); Paederus alfierii (Koch); Coccinella spp. andtrue spiders) were found in faba bean field during the two seasons. The first species was the most dominant.
According to the resistance degree, genotypes H-240A and H-240B appeared moderately resistant; H-1970; H-1972B; H-1973; H-1988 and H-232 appeared relatively resistant; H-1972A; H-1992; H-243; H-244 and Sakha1 appeared susceptible and H-1980 and H-230 appeared as highly susceptible for the first date plantation. As for the second date plantation, H-1973 and H-243 appeared moderately resistant; H-1970; H-1988; H-240B and Sakha1 appeared relatively resistant; H-1972A; H-1972B; H-1980; H-230 and H-244 appeared susceptible and H-1992; H-232and H-240A appeared highly susceptible.
Finally, it could be stated that, faba been genotypes H-240A and H-240B are considered promising genotypes for the first week of October plantation, while H-1973 and H-243 are suitable to the first week of November plantation. Thus, the tested genotypes must be taken great attention in the future to be used as relatively resistant varieties against leafhoppers infestation.