Effect of the lectin PHA on the feeding behavior of the grain aphid

Abstract

The electrical penetration graph (EPG) method was used to quantify the effect of the lectin PHA (phytohemagglutinin) on the feeding behavior of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae F (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Addition of PHA to an artificial diet affected aphid probing behavior. In general, increasing concentrations of PHA in sucroseagarose gels significantly reduced the number of aphid probes and extended their duration. Aphids feeding on the gels with lectin (without concentration 50 lg Á cm -3 ) had a prolonged activity (EPG pattern C) that was corresponded to prolonged penetration of the epidermis and mesophyll for aphids feeding on plants. Such insects also showed a significant reduction in salivation and passive ingestion from gels and a reduction in the total number of gel penetrations. At concentrations B250 lg Á cm -3 , PHA reduced feeding behavior on gels, and the EPG data were interpreted to correspond with reduced salivation into phloem sieve elements (EPG pattern E1) and reduced ingestion of phloem sap (EPG pattern E2). PHA also delayed the onset of the first E1 and E2 patterns. At higher concentrations (C500 lg Á cm -3 ), PHA completely stopped salivation and passive ingestion from gels. Similarly, higher concentration of PHA strongly reduced activity on gels that corresponded to activity in xylem (EPG pattern G); high PHA delayed the onset of the first G pattern and reduced total time of pattern G activity.

Insecticidal activity of a protein extracted from bulbs of Phycella australis Ravenna against the aphids Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris and Myzus persicae Sulzer

“…Sprawka and Golawska (2010) studied the effects of PHA on the feeding behavior of Sitobion avenae F. by the electrical penetration graph (EPG) method. They could conclude that the addition of PHA to an artificial diet affected the aphid probing behavior.…”

“…The mannose-binding lectins have shown strong insecticidal activity against chewing and sap-sucking insects, and particularly in controlling aphids (Sauvion et al, 1996;Sadeghi et al, 2009a;Vandenborre et al, 2011). Plant lectins can have detrimental effects on survival, growth, development, and feeding behavior when they are ingested by aphids (Sadeghi et al, 2009a;Sprawka and Golawska, 2010).…”

Evaluation of the insecticidal potential of leaf extracts of Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil (Griseb) Altschul against Tetranychus urticae Koch and Sitophilus zeamais Mots

“…Due to the lack of ingestion of the disks containing the extracts, the observed nutritional disorders occur. In addition, the effect of deterrence may be related to intoxication (post-ingestion effect), where the insect avoids feeding after ingesting a small amount of food that activates the rejection response (Michiels et al, 2010;Napoleão et al, 2013;Sauvion et al, 2004;Sprawka & Goławska, 2010).…”

Induction of apoptosis in the grain aphid Sitobion avenae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) under the influence of phytohaemagglutinin PHA

“…PHA has the greatest specificity for complex carbohydrate structures bearing a terminal D-galactose/Nacetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc) residue (Goldstein and Portez 1986). The insecticidal activity of PHA on S. avenae may involve effects on enzymes in the gut and on feeding behaviour (Sprawka and Goławska 2010;Sprawka et al 2011). Moreover, immunofluorescent studies by Habibi et al (2000) and Fitches et al (2001a) showed that PHA preferentially binds to the gut epithelial cells, which demonstrate the most severe effects, and that these cells may endocytose the bound PHA.…”