Comparison of the potential rate of population increase of brown and green color morphs of Sitobion avenae (Homoptera: Aphididae) on barley infected and uninfected with Barley yellow dwarf virus

Abstract

Life tables of brown and green color morphs of the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) reared on barley under laboratory conditions at 20 ± 1°C, 65% ± 5% relative humidity and a photoperiod of 16 : 8 h (L : D) were compared. The plants were either: (i) infected with the Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV); (ii) not infected with virus but previously infested with aphids; or (iii) healthy barley plants, which were not previously infested with aphids. Generally, both color morphs of S. avenae performed significantly better when fed on BYDV-infected plants than on plants that were virus free but had either not been or had been previously infested with aphids. Furthermore, when fed on BYDV-infected plants, green S. avenae developed significantly faster and had a significantly shorter reproductive period than the brown color morph. There were no significant differences in this respect between the two color morphs of S. avenae when they were reared on virus-free plants that either had been or not been previously infested with aphids. These results indicate that barley infected with BYDV is a more favorable host plant than uninfected barley for both the color morphs of S. avenae tested, particularly the green color morph.

Increased Susceptibility to Aphids of Flowering Wheat Plants Exposed to Low Temperatures

“…We showed that aphids preferred wheat plants, which had been exposed to low temperatures for 60 min, and this correlated with significant reductions in levels of copper and potassium. It is possible that these changes in nutrient concentration were coincidental to the aphid preference, as there are other factors, including soluble carbohydrates and amino acids, which have also been linked to aphid performance (Hu et al 2014). Although the direct link between these elements and aphid preference and performance were not established in this work, numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of potassium regarding pest infestations of crops (West and Nansen 2014 analysis and showed that, among the main nutritional elements, leaf potassium content showed the strongest negative correlation with spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) bio-response.…”

Transcriptome response comparison between vector and non-vector aphids after feeding on virus-infected wheat plants

“…Schizaphis graminum and Rhopalosiphum padi are serious pests of cereal crops, particularly wheat that may cause harm to plants by feeding on them and by transmitting the Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) (Luteoviridae: Luteovirus) in a persistent and non-proliferative manner [1][2][3][4]. That causes one of the most economically important viral diseases of cereal plants [5,6]. In China, there were 4 isolated strains be identi ed as GPV, GAV, PAV and RMV and the BYDV-GAV is the major isolate [7].…”

Previous infestation withPsammotettix alienuson spring wheat seedlings decreased the fitness ofSitobion avenaein a subsequent infestation

“…Similarly, the fecundity of Schizaphis graminum (Mordvilko) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) biotype E was significantly higher when reared on the wheat cultivar Newton that was previously infested with D. noxia but not on wheat previously colonized by conspecifics (Formusoh et al ., ). Additionally, the apterous S. avenae exhibited different feeding behaviour on virus‐infected cereals (Hu et al ., , ). When cereal aphids and leafhoppers coexisted on the identical plant, the cereal aphids induced physiological changes in the host plants that affected the leafhopper P. alienus (Alla et al ., ).…”