NLRs are highly relevant resistance genes for aphid pests.

Since the 20th century, when plant resistance to aphids was available, it has been widely used by farmers and the inheritance of plant resistance has been understood for several crops. However, it is only when the plant-aphid relationship was compared with that of microbial pathogens, that aphid resistance has begun to be understood and integrated into the plant immune network. Three of the four genes identified for plant resistance to aphid encode nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat receptor (NLR) proteins responsible for aphid-effector triggered immunity, and NLRs are serious candidates for aphid resistance in four other plant species. Aphids are vectors for plant viruses, and aphid-effectors triggering immunity when they pierce plant cells are expected to trigger resistance to the viruses transmitted to the plant with effectors, as has been shown for aphid resistance in melon. This dual phenotype increases the interest of NLRs in the control of aphids.