How an aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) symbiosis responds to variation in dietary nitrogen

Prosser, W.A.; Simpson, Stephen J.; Douglas, Angela E.

doi:10.1016/0022-1910(92)90130-6

Cited by 49 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The honeydew amino acid composition of the eight species of aphids feeding on tansy varied considerably, but was generally similar to that reported in other aphids (Douglas & Prosser, 1992; Prosser et al ., 1992; Bernays & Klein, 2002; Wilkinson & Douglas, 2002). The honeydew of the eight species in the current study contained predominantly four nonessential amino acids (78%), the two double‐amidated amino acids asparagine and glutamine plus glutamate and serine.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…The amino acids in the honeydew of aphids are not only influenced by the diet, but also by the action of endosymbionts, which are localized in mycetocytes within the haemolymph of aphids (Buchner, 1965; Douglas, 1989, 1992; Munson et al ., 1991). Endosymbiotic amino acid biosynthesis is mainly based on the double‐amidated amino acids glutamine and asparagine that are not only ingested with the diet, but also synthesized to detoxify ammonia (Prosser et al ., 1992; Liadouze et al ., 1996; Febvay et al ., 1999). The predominance of glutamine and asparagine in the honeydew of the eight species of aphids feeding on T. vulgare phloem sap, with its very high glutamine and threonine content, also indicates considerable modification of phloem sap amino acids via symbionts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Honeydew amino acids in relation to sugars and their role in the establishment of ant‐attendance hierarchy in eight species of aphids feeding on tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

Woodring

Wiedemann

Fischer

et al. 2004

Physiological Entomology

109

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The ratio of the concentration of honeydew total amino acids to total sugars in the honeydew of eight species of aphids, all feeding on tansy, Tanacetum vulgare (L.), was determined and correlated with honeydew production and ant‐attendance. The honeydew of the five ant‐attended aphid species [Metopeurum fuscoviride (Stroyan), Trama troglodytes (v. Hayd), Aphis vandergooti (Börner), Brachycardus cardui (L.), Aphis fabae (Scopoli)] was rich in total amino acids, ranging from 12.9 to 20.8 nmol µL−1 compared with the unattended aphid Macrosiphoniella tanacetaria (Kalt.) with only 3 nmol µL−1. Asparagine, glutamine, glutamic acid and serine (all nonessential amino acids) were the predominant amino acids in the honeydew of all species. The total concentration of amino acids in the phloem sap of tansy was much higher (78.7 nmol µL−1) then in the honeydew samples, and the predominant amino acids were glutamate (34.3%) and threonine (17.7%). A somewhat unexpected result was the finding that those aphid species with the highest total amino acid concentration in the honeydew always had the highest concentration of sugars. The lowest amino acid–sugar combined value was 104–28.8 nmol µL−1 in the non ant‐attended species M. tanacetaria, and the highest value was an average of 270–89.9 nmol µL−1 for the three most intensely attended aphid species M. fuscoviride, A. vandergooti and T. troglodytes. There is no evidence that any single amino acid or group of amino acids in the honeydew acted as an attractant for ant‐attendance in these eight aphid species. The richness of the honeydew (rate of secretion × total concentration of sugars), along with the presence of the attractant sugar melezitose, comprised the critical factors determining the extent of ant‐attendance of the aphids feeding on T. vulgare. The high total amino acid concentration in sugar‐rich honeydews can be explained by the high flow‐through of nutrients in aphids that are particularly well attended by ants.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Honeydew amino acids in relation to sugars and their role in the establishment of ant‐attendance hierarchy in eight species of aphids feeding on tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

Woodring

Wiedemann

Fischer

et al. 2004

Physiological Entomology

109

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The lack of a positive relationship between essential amino acid concentration and mealybug life history could be explained by the presence of bacteriocytes or by compensatory feeding behaviors that counter the effect of amino acid deÞciencies in the phloem. Indeed, investigations of honeydew production by aphids, whiteßies, and psyllids indicate that other sucking insects can compensate for low concentrations of amino acids by increasing their rates of feeding (Pfeiffer and Burts 1984, Byrne and Miller 1990, Prosser et al 1992, Blua and Toscano 1994, Isaacs et al 1998 or with the help of intracellular symbionts in specialized cells (Wilkinson and Ishikawa 2000). Without further study of amino acid consumption and use by mealybugs, we are unable to directly determine the inßuence of these amino acids on mealybug life history.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Effect of Variegation on Stem Exudates of Coleus and Life History Characteristics of Citrus Mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

Sadof¹,

Neal²,

Cloyd

2003

Environ Entomol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Buchnera uses non-essential amino acids for the synthesis of essential amino acids (Douglas 1988;Febvay et al 1995), whilst the amino acid synthesis activity can increase in response to low dietary supply (Febvay et al 1999;Douglas et al 2001). Thus both the quantity and the quality of N source inXuences the growth and fecundity of aphids on their host plants (Febvay et al 1988;Prosser et al 1992;Abisgold et al 1994;Girousse and Bournoville 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How aphids decide what is good for them: experiments to test aphid feeding behaviour on Tanacetum vulgare (L.) using different nitrogen regimes

Nowak

Komor

2010

Oecologia

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Leaf-chewing herbivores select food with a protein/carbohydrate ratio of 0.8-1.5, whereas phloem sap, which aphids feed on, has a ratio of approximately 0.1. Enhanced N fertilization increases the amino acid concentration in phloem sap and elevates the N/C ratio. The study examines: (1) whether aphids select between plants of different N nutrition, (2) whether feeding time correlates with the amino acid composition of phloem sap, and (3) at which stage of probing aphids identify the quality of the plant. Uroleucon tanaceti (Mordvilko) and Macrosiphoniella tanacetaria (Kaltenbach), specialist aphids feeding on tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.), were reared on this host plant grown essentially hydroponically (in Vermiculite) in the greenhouse on 1, 3, 6, or 12 mM NH(4)NO(3). One and 3 mM NH(4)NO(3) corresponds to the situation found in natural tansy stands. Aphid stylet penetration was monitored by electrical penetration graphs whilst phloem sap was sampled by stylectomy. Both aphid species settled 2-3 times more frequently on plants fertilized with 6 or 12 mM NH(4)NO(3). The phloem sap of these plants contained up to threefold higher amino acid concentrations, without a change in the proportion of essential amino acids. No time differences were observed before stylet penetration of plant tissue. After the first symplast contact, most aphids penetrated further, except M. tanacetaria on low-N plants, where 50% withdrew the stylet after the first probing. The duration of phloem feeding was 2-3 times longer in N-rich plants and the time spent in individual sieve tubes was up to tenfold longer. Aphids identified the nutritional quality of the host plant mainly by the amino acid concentration of phloem sap, not by leaf surface cues nor the proportion of essential amino acids. However, U. tanaceti infestation increased the percentage of methionine plus tryptophan in phloem tenfold, thus manipulating the plants nutritional quality, and causing premature leaf senescence.

show abstract

How an aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) symbiosis responds to variation in dietary nitrogen

Cited by 49 publications

References 14 publications

Honeydew amino acids in relation to sugars and their role in the establishment of ant‐attendance hierarchy in eight species of aphids feeding on tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

Honeydew amino acids in relation to sugars and their role in the establishment of ant‐attendance hierarchy in eight species of aphids feeding on tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

Effect of Variegation on Stem Exudates of Coleus and Life History Characteristics of Citrus Mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

How aphids decide what is good for them: experiments to test aphid feeding behaviour on Tanacetum vulgare (L.) using different nitrogen regimes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About