EVALUACIÓN AGRONÓMICA DE MATERIALES GENÉTICOS DE Melilotus albus DESR. CON DIFERENTE CONTENIDO DE CUMARINA Y SU EFECTO SOBRE LA ALIMENTACIÓN DE Colias lesbia (LEPIDOPTERA: PIERIDAE).

Melilotus albus is a naturalized legume in Argentina and is recognized as a species with great potential to be used as forage source. Coumarin derivates are found in significant amounts in this species. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of materials with different coumarin content on: a) morphological traits associated with plant vigour and b) leaf feeding of Colias lesbia. The results show that coumarin content would not be associated with morphological differences between materials. Materials with high levels of coumarin had a deterrent effect on leaf feeding. Furthemore, leaves of all materials of M. albus were rejected when they were offered together with leaves of alfalfa. The information generated in this study will be useful to design a breeding program to reduce the coumarin content without decreasing pest tolerance in M. albus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]