Leaf epicuticular wax as a factor of antixenotic resistance of cabbage to cabbage flea beetles and cabbage stink bugs attack

The aim of present research was to establish the role of epicuticular wax content in eight cabbage genotypes (four white hybrids and one red hybrid, two red varieties and one white variety) in the context of its natural resistance to attack cabbage flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.) and cabbage stink bugs (Eurydema spp.), which are among the most important cabbage pests in southern Europe. For this reason and for the purpose of diminishing the use of synthetic insecticides against the cabbage pests the field experiments in 2006 and 2008 were conducted. We found out that individual cabbage genotypes – they had different epicuticular wax content – differ in regard to their susceptibility to attacks by the studied groups of harmful insect pests. The highest susceptibility to attacks by Phyllotreta spp. was confirmed for the hybrid ‘Cheers F1’, in the first year (1.68 ± 0.05), as well as in the second year of the experiment (2.87 ± 0.13). Cabbage stink bugs in both years of the experiment caused the highest extent of injuries on the hybrids ‘Destiny F1’, ‘Cheers F1’, and ‘Vestri F1’. In both years we found higher epicuticular wax content in red cabbage genotypes. In almost all studied genotypes we found a pronounced negative correlation between the content of epicuticular wax and the extent of injuries done by both groups of harmful pests. We have established that epicuticular wax is an important factor of cabbage's antixenotic resistance to attacks by cabbage flea beetles and cabbage stink bugs, and that the cabbage genotypes with higher content of this substance are consequently more suitable for environmentally acceptable manners of cabbage production.