Evaluation Of French Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Cultivars And Breeding Lines For Resistance To Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Pests In Kenya.

Abstract

Nine French bean commercial varieties and over ninety breeding lines were assessed to ascertain their susceptibility to thrips (Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Samples of thrips infestation were collected after anthesis at weekly intervals for four weeks. Evidence from the study showed significant differences among the French bean cultivars and breeding lines in thrips infestation. The cultivars had higher thrips infestations compared to the breeding lines. Pod damage score also differed significantly among the varieties with cultivar Harricot 05 recording the highest thrips damage score (2.84).