The effect of aphid‐resistance in cowpea on infestation and development of Aphis craccivora and the transmission of cowpea aphid‐borne mosaic virus1

SUMMARY The virus‐vector‐host relationships of cowpea aphid‐borne mosaic virus (CAMV) and its vector, Aphis craccivora, were studied in cowpea lines differing in resistance to aphid infestation. CAMV was acquired and inoculated by its vector during brief probes, confirming that it is non‐persistently transmitted. On aphid‐resistant cowpea lines, the abundance and the relative sizes of aphids was less than in aphid‐tolerant and aphid‐susceptible lines. However, aphids were observed to make more numerous probes and probes of shorter duration on aphid‐resistant lines than on aphid‐susceptible lines. Resistance to aphid infestation in cowpea did not provide resistance to infection with CAMV.