Differences in the relative resistance of two carrot cultivars to carrot fly attack over five seasons

A comparison was made over five seasons of carrot fly (Psila rosae) damage on two carrot cultivars, Sytan and Danvers, which represented the extremes of resistance discovered in screening trials at Wellesbourne. Plants were harvested regularly during the seasons and at each harvest the number and weight of roots was recorded and carrot fly damage was assessed using various techniques; in 1979-80 the numbers of carrot fly larvae and pupae in and around root samples were counted. The experiments confirmed repeatedly the relative resistance of cv. Sytan compared with Danvers. The estimated reduction in carrot fly larvae on Sytan relative to Danvers in early November in four seasons ranged from 40% to 67%. When tested against first generation carrot fly attack the reduction in larvae on Sytan was 54%. There were 45% fewer mines per root on Sytan resulting in less damage at each harvest in all seasons. Larvae took longer to develop on Sytan than Danvers and 18% more plants of Sytan survived carrot fly attack. Differences in seedstock, season, sowing time, generation of carrot fly, plant size and density did not account for observed differences in damage between the two cultivars. The studies indicated satisfactory practical techniques for assessing carrot fly damage in cultivar screening trials.