Dynamic distribution of Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae) and incidence of viral disease in different zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) cultivars

China is the country with the highest level of zucchini production globally. However, the cultivation of resistant zucchini varieties in China is still limited, and there is still a need to isolate more varieties of high quality. This study aimed to evaluate the abilities to resist aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover) and viral diseases in different varieties of zucchini. There were few aphids in variety SX-FRI08 and the lowest number in variety Algeria, while variety HeiYuan exhibited the highest number. Regarding the ability to resist diseases, a clearly lower disease index of aphid-spread viral diseases was exhibited in variety HeiYuan than in the other five varieties, while the disease index of variety Algeria was relatively high. In conclusion, the ability to resist aphids was not consistent with the ability to resist disease in zucchini. Varieties with a slow transformation rate and mild disease phenotype in the late growth stage had strong ability to resist disease.