Resistance of Peanuts to the Potato Leafhopper¹

More than 700 peanut (Arachis hypogaea) lines from the North Carolina germplasm collection were evaluated for resistance to the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae Harris, from 1961 to 1972. Twelve lines were selected as being highly resistant to the potato leafhopper. The lines represent two diverse sources of germplasm resistant to the potato leafhopper.

A study of the nature of resistance using standard histological techniques revealed leafhopper resistance was associated with a thick epidermis, long trichomes, and with a high percentage of straight trichomes on leaves. Leafhopper susceptible peanuts have leaves with an appressed surface texture.