| Annually, local production suffers a significant yield loss due to pest aphids, and the viruses they vector. In South Africa, spring wheat is produced in two specific zones each with their own particular production systems, cultivars and regular pests.
The first is rainfed spring wheat produced in the Western Cape, and the second, spring irrigated wheat grown near major rivers or dams throughout the country.
A complex of different aphid species occurs on wheat in South Africa with different species dominating in different areas and environmental conditions.
In South Africa host plant resistance has been deployed very successfully against Russian wheat aphid, but not against any of the other aphid species of the complex, namely bird cherry oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi), greenbug (Schizaphis graminum), English grain aphid, (Sitobion avenae) and rose grain aphid (Metopholophium dirhodum) who are known to vector viruses.
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This project is utilising advanced, international breeding lines with high yield and aphid resistance to study the effect of this resistance on South African aphid populations. Where suitable resistance is found it will be utilised to develop cultivars that can assist producers to manage aphid populations below the economic damage threshold.
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Metopolophium dirhodum
Rose grain aphid | 
Rhopalosiphum padi
Bird Cherry Oat aphid |  Field trial to determine efficacy of resistance in South Africa
|  Planting the field trial in 2025
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