Effects of silicon acid and of acibenzolar-S-methyl on Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in wheat plants

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of silicon acid and acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) on biology and behavior of the aphid (greenbug) in wheat plants. The experiment involved a 4 factorial (no silicon, silicon on leaf, silicon in the soil and silicon in the soil + on leaf), x 2 (with and without acibenzolar-S-methyl), in a completely randomized design. A preference test with chance of choice was set in blocks randomized, with 10 replications. Silicon acid was used at 1% and ASM at 0.5%. The treatments were evaluated by means of preference tests with chance of choice (adult aphids in leaf sections of wheat plants were counted), biological studies (length of pre-reproductive, reproductive and post-reproductive periods, mortality rate during the pre-productive period, number of nymphs, longevity and population growth rate were determined) and colonization of aphids (number of adult aphids and nymphs were determined). In the preference test, plants that received ASM were not chosen by the aphids. The application of the silicon or ASM reduced significantly the number of nymphs, the population growth rate, the post-reproductive period and the longevity of the greenbug. A significant reduction of the number of aphids was observed during aphids colonization when ASM or silicon were applied. The addition of silicon acid, mostly in the soil, or of ASM is promising as a control method in the integrated management of aphid in wheat.     

Pathogenicity of hyphomycet fungi to aphids Aphis gossypii Glover and Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The aphids Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae are cosmopolitan, poliphagous and damage cultivated plants. The effects of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (isolate IBCB 66), Metarhizium anisopliae (isolate IBCB 121), Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (isolate IBCB 141) and Lecanicillium (= Verticillium) lecanii (isolate JAB 02) on third instar nymphs of A. gossypii and M. persicae were evaluated in the laboratory at 25 degrees C, 70 +/- 10% RH and 12h photophase. The aphids were transferred to petri dishes with a foliar disk (cotton or pepper) with a layer of 1 cm tick of agar-water. The fungi were applied in a suspension containing 1.0 x 106 to 1.0 x 108 conidia/ml. In the control treatment 1 ml of sterilized water was added to the foliar disks. The mortality of aphids was evaluated daily. B. bassiana and M. anisopliae caused 100% mortality at the seventh day after inoculation, for both species. L. lecanii was the fungus that provided mortality later in the aphids and M. persicae was more susceptible to both fungi than A. gossypii.     

Green peach aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) action thresholds for controlling the spread of potato leafroll virus in Idaho.

Arbitrary green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), action thresholds (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 aphids per 100 leaves) were tested in 3 yr of field experimentation to determine if they could be maintained and if they would significantly impact aphid densities and limit the incidence of potato leafroll virus (PLRV). In 1997 and 1998, significant linear relationships between thresholds and final percentage of PLRV (expressed as the percentage of tubers infected with PLRV) were observed: there was a trend toward lower PLRV incidence with decreasing action threshold in 1999. There were significant relationships between thresholds and mean number of apterous aphids in 1998 and 1999, indicating that reduction of PLRV resulted from reduced within-field spread by apterae. In almost all cases, aphid densities exceeded threshold levels from one week to the next, clearly showing that the thresholds could not be maintained. Over all experiments, four to nine seasonal applications of methamidophos were warranted by the magnitude of the threshold. Imidacloprid applied at planting to the zero aphid threshold reduced the number of methamidophos applications from nine in the insecticide-at-detection treatment to five. A revised within-field green peach aphid management plan is recommended that includes systemic insecticide applied at planting, aphid sampling every 3-4 d, and foliar insecticide application following aphid detection.     

PVY侵染后烟草营养成分的变化及其对介体烟蚜生长发育的影响

【目的】明确马铃薯Y病毒(potato virus Y,PVY)侵染后诱导的烟草营养成分的变化及其对烟蚜Myzus persicae生命特性的影响,旨在进一步解析PVY-烟草-烟蚜三者间的互作机制。【方法】通过蒽酮比色法和氨基酸自动分析仪测定了PVY不同侵染时期烟株体内的可溶性糖和游离氨基酸含量的变化;测定和比较了感病与健康烟草植株上烟蚜种群生长发育、成虫寿命、繁殖力和有翅蚜产生量的差异性。【结果】PVY侵染前、中、后期(分别为侵染后5,12和20 d)的烟草叶片中游离氨基酸的总量均显著高于健康烟草叶片。相较于健康烟草叶片,在PVY侵染前期的烟草叶片中,谷氨酸、脯氨酸、天冬氨酸、色氨酸、缬氨酸、赖氨酸和组氨酸的含量显著增加;PVY侵染中期,感病叶片中丝氨酸含量显著下降,谷氨酸、天冬氨酸、色氨酸、缬氨酸、亮氨酸、苯丙氨酸、精氨酸和组氨酸含量显著提高;PVY侵染后期,感病叶片中甘氨酸含量显著下降,谷氨酸、脯氨酸、天冬氨酸、苏氨酸、缬氨酸、亮氨酸、丙氨酸、苯丙氨酸、组氨酸、酪氨酸和精氨酸含量显著提高。在PVY侵染的前期和中期,感病叶片中的可溶性糖含量显著高于健康烟叶,而在侵染后期感病叶片中可溶性糖含量显著低于健康烟草叶片的。PVY侵染前期和中期的烟草叶片中总糖和总游离氨基酸的含量比值显著高于健康烟草叶片中的。在PVY侵染的烟草植株和健康烟草植株上取食的烟蚜其发育历期、若蚜历期、成蚜繁殖期、繁殖后期、寿命、烟蚜种群的内禀增长率、周限增长率和平均世代周期均无显著差异,但在感病烟草植株上取食的烟蚜成蚜繁殖前期显著缩短,其繁殖力和净生殖率显著提高。相较于健康烟草植株,在PVY侵染烟草植株上定殖的烟蚜种群有翅蚜发生的高峰期提前。【结论】PVY侵染前期和中期提高了寄主烟草的营养品质,从而提高了烟蚜的繁殖力。侵染后期烟草营养品质的下降,促使烟蚜种群有翅蚜的产生和扩散,从而有利于PVY自身的传播。     

Antibiosis and antixenosis of six commonly produced potato cultivars to the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The antibiotic and antixenotic resistance of six commonly produced potato cultivars in Iran including Aozonia, Agria, Cosima, Cosmos, Kondor and Savalan to the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae Sulzer, were investigated under laboratory conditions at 20 ± 2oC, 65 ± 5% RH and 16:8h (L:D) in 2009. Antibiosis experiments showed significant differences in the developmental time, nymphal survivorship, fecundity, adult longevity of the green peach aphid among the potato cultivars. Intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m) for apterous aphids varied significantly with the potato cultivars on which the aphids were reared. This value ranged from 0.225 to 0.293 females/female/day, which was lowest on Cosmos and highest on Aozonia. Additionally, the estimated net reproductive rate (R0) and finite rate of increase (λ) for apterous aphids were the lowest on Cosmos. For the antixenosis experiment, no significant difference was found in aphid's preference to the potato cultivars. However, Aozonia was preferred more than the other five cultivars by the apterous aphids. Therefore, our results demonstrated that among the investigated cultivars the Cosmos cultivar is moderately resistant to the green peach aphid.     

Evaluation of artificial diets for rearing Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Artificial aphid diets have been previously developed for the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), and the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer). The ability to rear aphids on an artificial diet allows for selectively adding or subtracting compounds from an aphid's food source to determine the effect on fecundity and longevity. Five diets previously developed for the green peach aphid and the pea aphid were tested for their suitability for rearing soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura. The best diet, originally developed for the green peach aphid and based on the amino acid profile of young potato plants, allowed 12 generations of soybean aphids to develop. For all diets tested, aphid fecundity, and longevity were greatly reduced in comparison with aphids reared on soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., plants or on detached soybean leaves. In addition, mean developmental time was significantly longer for aphids reared on artificial diets.     

叶面喷施硅和磷对水稻及其抗白背飞虱的影响

【目的】硅可以增强植物的抗病性和对环境胁迫的耐受性,本实验检测了水稻叶面喷施硅和磷后叶片中硅和两种次生物质含量的变化以及喷硅对白背飞虱Sogatella furcifera种群的影响,旨在阐明外源元素施用是否会提高水稻的抗虫性。【方法】采用对分蘖期水稻进行硅肥、磷肥、和两者混合的喷施处理,测定比较了水稻叶片正面和反面硅含量、草酸含量和可溶性糖含量,同时检测了喷施硅肥后水稻叶片硅化细胞数量和取食处理水稻后白背飞虱种群增长的参数。【结果】20和40 mg/L 硅或硅+磷混合施用后,水稻叶片中的硅含量比对照显著增加(P<0.05)。在40 mg/L硅+ 40 mg/L磷喷施处理后,水稻叶片正反面的硅含量分别比对照增加了116%和104.4%。扫描电镜结果显示,处理后的水稻叶片上气孔周围硅化细胞明显增加。此外,硅和磷喷施后3 d和6 d,水稻叶片草酸含量显著增加(P<0.01)。40 mg/L硅处理后的水稻上饲养的白背飞虱产卵量与对照相比明显下降(P<0.05)。【结论】硅+磷喷施处理促进水稻叶片抗虫物质含量增加,硅喷施抑制了白背飞虱的产卵量。     

Distribution of Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Potato Growing Areas of Southwestern Australia

Sticky traps, water traps and leaf samples were used to monitor aphid populations at 32 sites in southwestern Australia between October and May for four seasons between 1988–92. Twenty-seven sites were located in potato, Solanum tuberosum L., crops, with five others located in mixed vegetable crops or pastures. Sites were located in an area of approximately 90,000 km², and encompassed most of the potato growing areas of the region. Thirty-four species of aphids were detected. Potato-colonising aphids found were Myzus persicae, Aulacorthum solani, Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Aphis craccivora. M. persicae was the most widespread, and its seasonal distribution in southwestern Australia is presented. Fewer M. persicae were recorded and it arrived later in the season for 2 of 3 years at southern sites than northern sites. At sites where both sticky traps and leaf sampling were used, leaf sampling often detected M. persicae before they were found on traps. Results suggest that potato crops grown on the southern coast will be least vulnerable to infection by aphid-borne viruses.     

Rapid method to screen resistance of potato plants against Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) in the laboratory

With the objective to develop a potato, Solanum tuberosum L., resistance program against aphids, we propose a rapid screening method with Myzus persicae (Sulzer) in the laboratory. We aimed to optimize the duration of the whole procedure and to decrease the frequency of measurements. In a first experiment, intrinsic rate of natural increase (r(m)) values were compared between adult aphids reared throughout their entire life and adults reared only during a period equivalent to their prereproductive period. No significant differences were observed. In a second experiment, four groups of aphids were distinguished according to the sampling frequency, i.e., those whose biological parameters were evaluated every single, second, third, and fourth day. Except for the fourth-day experiment, the r(m) values estimated on aphids reared on the three potato lines were not significantly different whatever sampling frequency of single, second, or third day used to check aphids. Thus, screening efforts in laboratory can be largely optimized by evaluating adult aphids only during a period equivalent to their prereproductive period and assessing M. persicae populations every third day. Our method is reliable and adapted to screen a large number of potato plants against M. persicae because it allows an average 70% reduction in the time required for the whole experimental process.     

Aphid effects on rhizosphere microorganisms and microfauna depend more on barley growth phase than on soil fertilization

This paper gives the first reports on aphid effects on rhizosphere organisms as influenced by soil nutrient status and plant development. Barley plants grown in pots fertilized with N but without P (N), with N and P (NP), or not fertilized (0) were sampled in the early growth phase (day 25), 1 week before and 1 week after spike emergence. Aphids were added 16 days before sampling was carried out. In a separate experiment belowground respiration was measured on N and NP fertilized plant–soil systems with aphid treatments comparable to the first experiment. Aphids reduced numbers of rhizosphere bacteria and fungal feeding nematodes 1 week before spike emergence. Before spike emergence, aphids reduced belowground respiration in NP treatments. These findings strongly indicate that aphids reduced allocation of photoassimilates to roots and deposition of root exudates in the growth phase of the plant. Contrary to this, 1 week after spike emergence numbers of bacteria, fungal feeding nematodes and Protozoa were higher in rhizospheres of plants subjected to aphids probably because aphids enhanced root mortality and root decomposition. Protozoa and bacterial feeding nematodes were stimulated at different experimental conditions with nematodes being the dominant bacterial grazers at N fertilization and Protozoa in the NP treatment before spike emergence.     

Toxicity of [14C] phorate applied systemically to the aphids Myzus persicae (Sulz) and Brevicoryne brassicae (l.) grown on brussels sprout plants

The effect of foliar application of [14C] phorate on the larvae of M. persicae and B. brassicae was studied. Regression analysis of the toxic components in the foliage and the probit kill showed that B. brassicae was more susceptible to the insecticide than M. persicae. The level of radioactivity extracted from the leaves, aphids and their honeydew shows that there was no correlation between the applied dose and the mortality. The amounts of honeydew produced by colonies before and after application of the insecticide were measured. The ratio of honeydew calculated shows that in M. persicae there was a slight increase in the honeydew production as the insecticide was increased from sublethal doses. At higher doses over the lethal range of the insecticide, honeydew production declined gradually in both the species.     

Probiotic effects of beta-glucuronidase on the peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae (Aphididae)

beta-glucuronidase (GUS) is a reporter protein commonly expressed in transgenic plants allowing the visualization of the transformed individuals. In our recent work, we showed that consumption of transformed potato plants expressing this GUS enzyme improves performance of the phloem feeding aphid Myzus persicae. Those results led us to the conclusion that the expression of GUS in potato plants might be responsible for the probiotic effect measured in feeding aphids. In the present paper, artificial diets were used to provide active GUS (10 and 500 microg ml(-1)), inactivated heated GUS (500 microg ml(-1)), glucuronic acid (10, 100 and 500 microg ml(-1)), and bovine serum albumin (500 microg ml(-1)) to M. persicae. Our results reveal that these chemicals provided as food intake might influence the biological parameters of this aphid. Experiments showed a probiotic effect of 500 microg ml(-1) GUS diet, resulting in reduced larval mortality, and increased adult reproduction period and fecundity, which led to an increased population growth potential (r(m)=0.17+/-0.01 versus r(m)=0.12+/-0.03 for aphids fed on control diet). A lower amount of added GUS led to fewer variations, biological parameters being only slightly altered (r(m)=0.14+/-0.03). Statistically similar alterations of the biological parameters were obtained when comparing aphids fed on the diet added with inactivated GUS or the non-structural bovine serum albumin protein (r(m)=0.15+/-0.02 and 0.14+/-0.03, respectively). Feeding assays conducted with glucuronic acid supplemented diets enhanced longevity and nymph production of the adult aphids and reduced larval mortality, resulting in r(m)=0.15+/-0.02 for the highest dose (500 microg ml(-1)). Although 100 microg ml(-1) glucuronate diet did not induce any effect on M. persicae (r(m)=0.12+/-0.03), aphids fed on 10 microg ml(-1) glucuronate diet exhibited unexpected reduced demographic parameters (r(m)=0.10+/-0.03). Immuno-histological analysis showed GUS labeling along the whole digestive epithelium of adults and in various tissues including embryos and bacteriocytes. These results suggest that GUS crosses through the digestive tract. Western blots performed with protein extracts of transformed potato plants expressing the gus gene showed a unique band of molecular weight 76 kDa. On the contrary, in extracts from aphids fed on transgenic potato plants or bred on GUS 500 microg ml(-1) artificial diet, several proteins of lower molecular weight were hybridized, revealing proteolysis of ingested GUS. It is concluded that GUS protein, and more precisely GUS activity, is responsible for the probiotic effects on aphid feeding. The possible pathways of induction of such physiological alterations by GUS are discussed.     

施钾与蚜害处理后马铃薯叶片中多酚氧化酶活性的变化

蚜虫危害是影响马铃薯Solanum tuberosum产量和品质的重要因素之一, 而多酚氧化酶（polyphenol oxidase, PPO）与植物的抗性密切相关。为了阐明施钾条件下马铃薯与桃蚜Myzus persicae的关系, 本实验通过比色法、 iTRAQ技术和蛋白免疫印迹法研究了对照（不施钾, 不接虫）、 接虫、 施钾以及施钾＋接虫4种处理后马铃薯叶片中多酚氧化酶活性的变化。结果表明： 施钾显著降低桃蚜种群数量。随着桃蚜发育期延长, 桃蚜的种群数量显著低于对照, 且6 g/株施钾量对桃蚜种群数量的抑制效果最强。以6 g/株作为施钾量, 对不同处理后马铃薯叶片中多酚氧化酶活性研究显示, 施钾、 接虫+施钾处理均使马铃薯叶片中PPO活性显著提高, 分别比对照增加了44%和67%。通过液相色谱 质谱/质谱联用仪（LC-MS/MS） 分析, 接虫、 施钾、 接虫+施钾处理均不同程度上调了PPO蛋白表达量。Western杂交结果显示： 施钾、 接虫+施钾处理显著增加了PPO的相对表达量, 且接虫+施钾处理使该相对表达量达到最高。结果说明, 施钾、 接虫+施钾处理通过诱导马铃薯叶片中的PPO活性, 从一个侧面提高了马铃薯抗蚜虫能力。     

Effect of mixed viral infections (potato virus Y-potato leafroll virus) on biology and preference of vectors Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Mixed viral infections of heterologous viruses such as Potato virus Y (family Potyviridae, genus Potyvirus, PVY) and Potato leafroll virus (family Luteoviridae, genus Polerovirus, PLRV) are a regular occurrence in Idaho's potato, Solanum tuberosum (L.), cropping systems. An increased number of plant samples from Idaho's potato fields over the past 2 yr has serologically tested positive for both PVY and PLRV via double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) and exhibited more severe symptoms than singly-infected plants (PVY or PLRV). Several studies have extensively examined the mixed infection phenomenon but to the best of our knowledge, none have examined the effect of such infections on vector biology and preference. Laboratory studies were conducted to examine the effect of mixed viral (PVY-PLRV) infection on the fecundity and preference of two of the most efficient PVY and PLRV vectors, the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), and the potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). M. persicae and M. euphorbiae adults were clip-caged (one adult per cage) to leaflets of PVY, PLRV, PVY-PLRV-infected, and noninfected potato plants. The number of nymphs produced in all four treatments was recorded after 96 h. M. persicae and M. euphorbiae fecundity was significantly higher on mixed infected plants than on singly infected plants or noninfected plants. Preference of alatae and apterae of M. persicae and M. euphorbiae was determined with the use of settling bioassays. Both alatae and apterae of M. persicae and M. euphorbiae preferentially settled on PVY-PLRV-infected plants than on singly infected plants (PVY or PLRV) or noninfected plants.     

Identification of indole glucosinolate breakdown products with antifeedant effects on Myzus persicae (green peach aphid)

The cleavage of glucosinolates by myrosinase to produce toxic breakdown products is a characteristic insect defense of cruciferous plants. Although green peach aphids ( Myzus persicae ) are able to avoid most contact with myrosinase when feeding from the phloem of Arabidopsis thaliana , indole glucosinolates are nevertheless degraded during passage through the insects. A defensive role for indole glucosinolates is suggested by the observation that atr1D mutant plants, which overproduce indole glucosinolates, are more resistant to M. persicae , whereas cyp79B2 cyp79B3 double mutants, which lack indole glucosinolates, succumb to M. persicae more rapidly. Indole glucosinolate breakdown products, including conjugates formed with ascorbate, glutathione and amino acids, are elevated in the honeydew of M. persicae feeding from atr1D mutant plants, but are absent when the aphids are feeding on cyp79B2 cyp79B3 double mutants. M. persicae feeding from wild-type plants and myrosinase-deficient tgg1 tgg2 double mutants excrete a similar profile of indole glucosinolate-derived metabolites, indicating that the breakdown is independent of these foliar myrosinases. Artificial diet experiments show that the reaction of indole-3-carbinol, a breakdown product of indol-3-ylmethylglucosinolate, with ascorbate, glutathione and cysteine produces diindolylmethylcysteines and other conjugates that have antifeedant effects on M. persicae . Therefore, the post-ingestive breakdown of indole glucosinolates provides a defense against herbivores such as aphids that can avoid glucosinolate activation by plant myrosinases.     

PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON POTATO APHIDS IN NORTH AND NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND

Studies of potato aphids made in the potato seed-growing areas of north and north-east Scotland during 1950-3 showed that potato plants were first infested during July, but with few aphids; maximum populations did not develop until mid-late August or early September, which is the period of potato haulm destruction in seed crops. Myzus persicae (Sulzer) was scarce in rural districts and most numerous near urban areas. The main influx of alatae occurred in early August. Aulacorthum solani (Kltb.) was the predominant species north of Inverness. Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) was present in small numbers in many potato fields, but Aphis nasturtii (Kltb.) was extremely scarce.
Because of the small numbers of aphids found during two years by examining two or three compound leaves per haulm, it was preferable to count the aphids on one main stem and all its leaves.
Stove-pipe sticky traps provided information complementary to complete stem/leaf examination, but are considered to be of doubtful use in an area where aphids are few.     

桃蚜、萝卜蚜的种内密度和种间竞争效应

在温室内不同密度条件下,研究了桃蚜和萝卜蚜在甘蓝上的种内密度效应和种间竞争作用。结果表明：单独饲养时,在5头／株和10头／株密度下,两种蚜虫种内密度效应均较弱;而在15头／株时,桃蚜和萝卜蚜的寿命和产蚜量都随之显降低,说明当两种蚜虫达到一定的拥挤程度时,种内密度对种群均产生一定的负效应。两种蚜虫共存时,单头产蚜量均比单独饲养时显下降,种问竞争作用明显。在10、15头／株密度下,桃蚜的竞争作用大于萝卜蚜,萝卜蚜的寿命和单头产蚜量都极显低于桃蚜。     

Impacts of nano- and non-nanofertilizers on potato quality and productivity

Today, to achieve sustainable agriculture with maximum yield and minimum environmental risks, the use of nanofertilizers has riveted ample consideration. Field experiments were conducted during binary season of 2016 and 2017 at Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University, Egypt to estimate whether NPK nanofertilizers applied in equivalent or lower rates could replace recommended levels of NPK chemical fertilizers in potato farming systems without retrograde effects upon yield production or quality. Impacts of recommended rates of NPK chemical fertilizers (control treatments) compared to NPK nanofertilizers in equivalent or lower rates (100%, 50% and 25%), foliar or soil applied on potato productivity and quality were studied.Compared with control treatments, plots receiving foliar application of NPK nanofertilizers at 50% or 25% of recommended level showed higher values of economic yield (23.59-ton ha⁻¹), starch rates (79.62%), NPK nutrient use efficiency (67.74, 278.92, 118.54 kg potato/kg nutrient), harvest index (59.24%) and only lower potato nitrate content (1.15 g kg⁻¹) as a harmful indicator. Among all treatments, foliar application of NPK nanofertilizers at 50% rate was found to be the most economical treatment as it gave highest potato yield and quality plus highest profit: cost ratio of potato production. This research recommends foliar application of nanofertilizers in potato production to increase production and quality compared to soil applications. As yet, using lower rates of nanofertilizers as foliar application in the present study proved to be an eco-friendly environmental and economic alternative to recommended rates of chemical fertilizers with significant increase in potato productivity and quality.     

THE CORRELATION OF APHID NUMBERS WITH THE SPREAD OF LEAF ROLL AND RUGOSE MOSAIC IN POTATO CROPS

An analysis of the results of experiments in different parts of England and Wales from 1941 to 1947 on the spread of potato leaf roll and rugose mosaic showed that leaf roll spread was correlated with the number of alate Myzus persicae (Sulzer) caught on sticky traps throughout the potato-growing season; there was some correlation with the maximum count of M. persicae per 100 leaves, but this possibly results from the correlation between trapped aphids and the number per 100 leaves. Spread of rugose mosaic (potato virus Y) was correlated to a lesser degree with number of M, persicae , perhaps because other aphid species are often vectors. With both diseases higher correlations were obtained when the infected plants were dispersed among the healthy crop than when they were placed together in a row. It is concluded that it is possible to predict the average health of potato stocks in the following year from average trap data; further work may enable the health of individual stocks to be predicted.