The Effect of Santolina chamaecyparissus and Tagetes patula Essential Oils on Biochemical Markers of Oxidative Stress in Aphids

Abstract

This study investigated the toxicity of essential oils (EOs) from Santolina chamaecyparissus (L.) and Tagetes patula (L.) towards the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and the bird cherry-oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi (L.). The effects of the EOs on aphid population parameters and levels of biochemical markers of oxidative stress within insect tissues were analyzed. In laboratory bioassays, application of the studied EOs at sublethal concentrations reduced daily fecundity and led to a decrease in the intrinsic rate of natural increase in both aphid species. Treatment with EOs also induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within aphid tissues. The highest levels of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide were noted after 24 and 48 h of exposure. Moreover, a significant increase in lipid peroxidation was shown in treated aphids, especially between 48 and 72 h after exposure. The increase was more pronounced after treatment with the essential oil of S. chamaecyparissus, which also exhibited higher aphicidal activity in toxicity tests. The activities of antioxidant enzymes—superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)—were significantly elevated in both aphid species in response to the tested EOs. The obtained results suggest that oxidative stress evoked by treatment with the studied EOs may be an important factor determining their toxicity towards aphids.

Fumigant activity and transcriptomic analysis of two plant essential oils against the tea green leafhopper, Empoasca onukii Matsuda

“…One of the mechanisms of insecticides is thought to be their ability to cause oxidative stress in insects ( Akbar et al, 2012 ; Lazarevic et al, 2020 ; Czerniewicz and Chrzanowski, 2021 ). In our study, we found significant enrichment of superoxide dismutase activity (GO: 0004784), response to oxidative stress (GO: 0006979), oxidation-reduction process (GO: 0055114) and response to ethanol (GO: 0045471) pathways.…”

Differences in Oxidative Stress Markers and Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in Black Bean Aphid Morphs (Aphis fabae Scop.) Fed on the Primary Host Viburnum opulus L.

“…Little is known about ROS generation in aphids. However, the presence of these molecules has been found in the tissues of cereal aphids [ 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 ], the pea aphid Acyrtosiphon pisum (Harris) [ 60 , 61 ] and the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) [ 62 ]. Our data demonstrate clear differences in ROS content between various morphs of A. fabae occurring on the primary host.…”

“…The results of our earlier studies showed that the exposure of cereal aphids to o-dihydroxyphenols caused the accumulation of H 2 O 2 and lipid peroxidation products in their tissues [ 58 ]. Moreover, treatment with essential oils induced ROS generation and damage to lipids within the tissues of M. persicae and R. padi [ 62 ]. The host plants and their specific chemical compositions can affect the oxidative balance of aphids.…”

“…Previous reports indicated that SOD, CAT and APX activity increased when cereal aphids were exposed to o-dihydroxyphenols [ 28 , 65 , 71 ]. Czerniewicz and Chrzanowski [ 62 ] demonstrated that treatment with essential oils composed of secondary plant metabolites led to a significant upregulation of SOD and CAT activity in R. padi and M. persicae . The authors state that the mode of action of these oils may be related to the generation of oxidative stress within aphid tissues.…”

The Effect of Essential Oils from Asteraceae Plants on Behavior and Selected Physiological Parameters of the Bird Cherry-Oat Aphid

“…Our previous research has shown that several EOs from Asteraceae plants have toxic properties against aphids R. padi and M. persicae. The oils reduced the aphids' biological parameters and significantly inhibited the activity of AChE and Na + /K + -ATPase, the key enzymes of the insect nervous system [19,20]. However, an important aspect of the insecticidal activity of EOs is also their effect on aphid settling and feeding behavior.…”