RESISTANCE OF PERENNIAL GLANDULAR-HAIRED MEDICAGO SPECIES TO OVIPOSITION BY ALFALFA WEEVILS (COLEOPTERA, CURCULIONIDAE)

We tested two diploid (M. glandulosa David and M. prostrata Jacquin) and one tetraploid (M. glutinosa Marshall von Bieberstein) glandular-haired perennial Medicago species for resistance to oviposition by the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal). The control plants were perennial M. sativa L. (susceptible) and annuals M. scutellata (L.) Mill. and M. disciformis DC. (resistant). M. prostrata and M. glandulosa were highly resistant to oviposition in both the free-choice and the no-choice test. Both entries of M. glutinosa were not statistically less preferred than the controls in the free-choice test. In the no-choice test, the two M. glutinosa entries were significantly less preferred than M. sativa.