Prevalent Pest Management Strategies for Grain Aphids: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Cereal plants in natural ecological systems are often either sequentially or simultaneously attacked by different species of aphids, which significantly decreases the quality and quantity of harvested grain. The severity of the damage is potentially aggravated by microbes associated with the aphids or the coexistence of other fungal pathogens. Although chemical control and the use of cultivars with single-gene-based antibiosis resistance could effectively suppress grain aphid populations, this method has accelerated the development of insecticide resistance and resulted in pest resurgence. Therefore, it is important that effective and environmentally friendly pest management measures to control the damage done by grain aphids to cereals in agricultural ecosystems be developed and promoted. In recent decades, extensive studies have typically focused on further understanding the relationship between crops and aphids, which has greatly contributed to the establishment of sustainable pest management approaches. This review discusses recent advances and challenges related to the control of grain aphids in agricultural production. Current knowledge and ongoing research show that the integration of the large-scale cultivation of aphid-resistant wheat cultivars with agricultural and/or other management practices will be the most prevalent and economically important management strategy for wheat aphid control.

Integrated genome‐wide association study and QTL mapping reveals qSa‐3A associated with English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) resistance in wheat

“…Three major commonly accepted categories exist for the insect resistance traits of plants: antibiosis, tolerance, and antixenosis 9,53 . Antibiosis effected on the life table parameters, including the mortality, and fecundity of aphid 54 .…”

“…Therefore, breeding and planting resistant varieties are effective, economical, and environmentally safe strategies to protect wheat from aphid 8 . In response to the aphid attacks, wheat coevolved three classic resistance mechanisms including antibiosis, tolerance and antixenosis 9 . The evaluation of S. avenae resistance normally adopts the artificial inoculation or natural infestation under laboratory or field conditions.…”

The Peculiarities of Metopolophium dirhodum (Walk.) Population Formation Depending on Its Clonal and Morphotypic Organization during the Summer Period

“…The destructiveness of aphids is determined by their high rate of reproduction, ability to spread quickly, high ecological plasticity, and the toxicity of their extraintestinal secretions [ 3 , 10 , 11 ]. Aphids may also serve as a vector for viral and mycoplasmal pathogens [ 12 , 13 , 14 ], and fungal diseases, which develop on aphid honeydew, decrease the photosynthetic capabilities of the host plant [ 4 , 10 , 11 , 13 , 14 ]. However, it is difficult to manage aphid pests because insecticide-resistant forms (biotypes) frequently emerge in aphid populations; for example, there has been an increase in the frequency of several insecticide-resistant biotypes of Myzus persicae (Sulz.)…”

Responses of Six Wheat Cultivars (Triticum aestivum) to Wheat Aphid (Sitobion avenae) Infestation

“…It is an important food source because its production accounts for 17 percent of the world’s arable land, supplying food for nearly half of the world’s population [ 1 ]. Over 700 million tons of wheat are produced annually on approximately 220 million hectares of land worldwide [ 2 , 3 ]. However, coincident with increasing concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) has been the primary limiting factor played by the wheat aphid in wheat yield and quality [ 4 ].…”