Pests

Alfalfa Aphid

Medicago sativa L.

Specialized aphid species, such as the pea aphid, alfalfa aphid, and blue alfalfa aphid, parasitize alfalfa. These pests cause shoot deformation, growth inhibition, and act as vectors for viral diseases, including the alfalfa mosaic virus.

In the reference 35 varieties crop Alfalfa, where this is mentioned in the description.

For alfalfa, the most significant pests are the pea aphid, the alfalfa or acacia aphid, and the blue alfalfa aphid. The insects form colonies in the apical part of the shoots and cause direct damage by sucking sap, which leads to leaf yellowing and general plant development delay.

Within aphid species, there are specialized 'host races' and biotypes adapted to specific alfalfa genotypes. The genetic resistance of the crop is based on antibiosis and antixenosis mechanisms. Breeding relies on the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with resistance to specific aphid species, such as the spotted alfalfa aphid.

General information about the subject — on the page Aphids.

Sources8

Varieties of Alfalfa mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.