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Spinach, Spinacia oleracea L. breeding lines and a commercial cultivar were evaluated for differences in green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), preference, developmental time, adult longevity and fecundity. Aphid preference varied significantly among the breeding lines and the commercial cultivar ‘Kent.’ Line F70 was the only line significantly non-preferred when compared with ‘Kent’. Significant differences in aphid developmental time, adult longevity and fecundity were detected. Aphids held on line F70 required a longer period to reach reproductive age and produced fewer young than aphids held on ‘Kent.’

Two Arkansas breeding lines, 2 USDA breeding lines, and 2 commercial cultivars were evaluated for resistance to fruit rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuehn. Each line or cultivar was field evaluated for the percentage of rot of fruit touching the ground and for yield. Arkansas breeding lines and USDA breeding line 79B 888-3 had the lowest percentage of rot and the highest yield, whereas the commercial cultivars and USDA 79B 823-3 had the highest percentages of rot and the lowest yields. The use of Ethephon at 500 ppm significantly decreased the percentage of rot in the field and increased yield.