Automated video tracking of thrips behavior to assess host-plant resistance in multiple parallel two-choice setups

Table 2 Comparison of three different two-choice assays to acquire data on plant resistance to thrips

	Whole plants	Detached leaves	Video tracking

Main advantages	Non-invasive Reproduction and survival data	Limited space and number of insects required More standardized setup (allows automated imaging)	Detailed behavioral parameters Quick and objective controlled conditions
Main disadvantages	Space consuming Large numbers of thrips required Time consuming analysis large environmental variation	Limited mechanical damage at petiole Senescence of material Time consuming analysis	Mechanical damage at edge of leaf disc Relationship to endpoint values unknown
Variables obtained	Feeding damage Reproduction	Feeding damage	Duration spent in zone Duration not moving Duration moving Ratio moving/not moving Distance moved Velocity
Inoculation	30 min	60 min	30 min
Duration	6 days	6 days	8 h
Analysis	2–4 h	1 h	10 min
Minimum number of replicates^a	5	5	15
# thrips required	100 (5 × 20)	10 (5 × 2)	15 (15 × 1)

^aThe minimum number of replications is based on the criterion that >50 % of experiments should be significantly different among genotypes [P < 0.05 (Additional file 2: Table S1)]