我国刺吸电位技术三十年应用及创新

刺吸电位技术(Electricalpenetrationgraph,EPG)是研究刺吸式昆虫取食行为的电生理仪器及其配套技术体系。我国从20世纪90年代开始将刺吸电位技术引入生物学和农业科学领域,主要应用于昆虫与植物的关系、植物抗性机理、昆虫传毒机理、转基因安全性评价、全球气候变化等方面,研究所涉及的昆虫种类包括半翅目的蚜虫、粉虱、叶蝉、飞虱、介虫、木虱和缨翅目的蓟马等。自2007年以来举办了5次全国性的EPG技术培训和研讨会,并对EPG仪器进行了创新设计,实现了EPG仪器的国产化,大部分消耗品(如金丝、银胶等)可以实现国内供应。人工饲料上的EPG记录、指标体系的优化等与EPG相配套的技术体系不断完善。目前我国主要是应用EPG技术进行各类农林相关刺吸式昆虫的研究,而在欧洲和美国,除农林害虫外,EPG近年来也开始应用于医学昆虫和畜牧昆虫方面的研究。欧美在波形库构建、仪器原理等方面比我们具有优势,我国今后应该加强在EPG仪器自动化和可视化、波形自动识别、指标体系完善等方面的工作,同时培养能够应用EPG的年轻一代,尝试将EPG应用到医学昆虫领域。     

刺吸电波图实验中金丝与烟粉虱的粘连技术

刺吸电波图(EPG)是用于研究刺吸式口器昆虫取食的电生理技术。实验中,昆虫粘连技术是一项非常关键的技术,直接影响实验结果。该文以烟粉虱Bemisiatabaci(Gennadius) ,为例,介绍了粉虱成虫和若虫粘连的具体步骤和注意细节,比较了不同粘连方法的优缺点。结果表明,冷冻法是粘连粉虱最好的一种方法。     

刺吸电位技术实验中固定昆虫的三种方法比较研究

刺吸电位技术(Electrical penetration graph,EPG)是用来记录刺吸式口器昆虫的口针在其寄主植物组织中刺探所引起的电信号变化特征的技术,其核心在于建立昆虫取食行为与EPG波形的对应关系。近年来,EPG技术在昆虫取食行为及其传毒行为,以及植物抗虫机制等研究中得到越来越广泛的应用。其中,昆虫固定是影响EPG电极连接成功与否的关键技术,进而影响EPG实验结果。本文以灰飞虱Laodelphax striatellus(Fallén)为例,就EPG实验中电极连接时常用的3种昆虫固定技术(麻醉法、冷冻法和负压法)进行了详细描述与比较。研究结果表明,固定灰飞虱最优的方法为负压法,其次为麻醉法和冷冻法。     

EPG即时显示软件Realdisplay的开发和利用

研究和开发在刺吸式植食性昆虫取食行为研究中,刺吸电位技术（EPG）的一种新的应用软件Realdisplay。该软件可任意选择EPG信号采集频率和显示的通道数,也可以在同一屏幕上同时以不同的信号采焦频率即时清晰地显示1个通道的EPG信号,使研究者能准确地了解和控制昆虫的即时行为细节。此外,该软件存储的EPG信息为实验过程中每一时刻的电热值,因而后续分析和统计极为方便。因此,Realdisplay强化了EPG技术的功能,拓宽了EPG技术的应用领域。为研究刺吸式植食性昆虫的取食行为细节,昆虫与病毒、宿主植物的关系提供了有力的工具。     

一种烟粉虱成虫唾液酶鉴定与活性分析的方法

以B型烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)成虫为材料,介绍了一种微型刺吸式昆虫唾液酶鉴定和分析的方法,主要包括人工饲养、唾液收集、唾液多酚氧化酶(PPO)和过氧化物酶(POD)的鉴定与活性分析。结果显示,B型烟粉虱在特异性嗜好寄主甘蓝上分泌的多酚氧化酶与过氧化物酶的比活力分别为嗜好寄主番茄上的1.54和1.65倍。该方法操作简捷,鉴定结果直观清晰,酶活测定灵敏,适合于其他微型刺吸式昆虫如蚜虫、木虱等的唾液酶研究。     

刺吸式昆虫次生内共生菌的研究进展

蚜虫作为典型的刺吸式昆虫,需要以取食植物韧皮部汁液来补充营养,几乎所有蚜虫均带有一种能为其提供植物韧皮部缺失营养物质的初生共生菌Buchnera aphidicola。此外,蚜虫还可携带一种或多种次生内共生菌。在众多共生菌—寄主系统中,蚜虫与其所带内共生菌间的互作研究最为透彻。虽然次生内共生菌对寄主的存活和生殖影响并不显著,但其在寄主对环境耐受力、天敌防御能力等方面作用明显。本文在查阅大量蚜虫次生内共生菌相关文献的基础上,着重对蚜虫次生内共生菌的种类及传播规律、次生内共生菌对蚜虫表型的影响、蚜虫次生内共生菌基因组学等方面的研究现状进行综述,以求为刺吸式昆虫次生内共生菌的研究提供参考。     

基于EPG的三种刺吸式害虫在苹果苗上的取食行为比较

【目的】苹果绵蚜Eriosoma lanigerum、绣线菊蚜Aphis citricola和梨网蝽Stephanitis nashi是苹果园的一类重要害虫,它们以刺吸式口器对苹果树造成不同程度的危害。本研究旨在明确这3种刺吸式昆虫在苹果树上取食行为差异。【方法】利用刺吸电位(electrical penetration graph, EPG)技术对苹果绵蚜和绣线菊蚜成虫在苹果苗韧皮部和非韧皮部上的EPG指标,以及苹果绵蚜、绣线菊蚜和梨网蝽成虫苹果苗上的取食行为进行了比较分析,分析了这3种害虫的成虫在苹果苗上取食8 h各种波形平均持续时间的占比。【结果】结果表明,苹果绵蚜和绣线菊蚜成蚜在苹果苗上均产生6种取食波形,即非刺探波(np)、路径波(C)、意外穿刺细胞非主动取食细胞波(pd)、木质部取食波(G)、韧皮部唾液分泌波(E1)和韧皮部取食波(E2);而梨网蝽成虫取食过程中只产生非刺探波(np)、表皮刺穿波(A)、叶肉细胞取食波(Gc)和木质部取食波(E)4种波形。从蚜虫在苹果苗非韧皮部上取食的EPG指标看,苹果绵蚜成蚜pd波平均时间显著高于绣线菊蚜的,而刺探次数、np波总时间和pd波次数均显著低于绣线菊蚜的。从蚜虫在苹果苗韧皮部上取食的EPG指标来看,除第1次出现E2波的时间外,各指标没有显著差异。从3种害虫在苹果苗上取食8 h各波形的占比来看,梨网蝽成虫的np波总时间所占比例最高(53%),其次是绣线菊蚜成虫的(24%),苹果绵蚜成虫的最低(为1%)。同时,苹果绵蚜和绣线菊蚜成虫取食波为E2波,所占总时间比例分别为35%和25%,而梨网蝽的取食波为Gc波(占总时间比例为36%)和E波(占总时间比例为11%)。【结论】本研究阐释了苹果园刺吸式口器害虫的生态位分离和取食行为学机制,为果园刺吸式口器害虫的综合治理提供了理论依据。     

褐飞虱取食人工饲料的刺吸电位波形鉴别

昆虫刺吸电位技术(Electrical penetration graph,EPG)与人工饲料体系相结合,能为昆虫与植物相互关系中的行为、生理/毒理和分子机制等多个领域提供定量的研究手段。由于人工饲料体系与植物组织在结构和成分方面有较大差异,以现有的植物EPG波形作为参照标准的研究方法存在局限性。本研究应用EPG技术记录褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens(Stl)在人工饲料上的取食行为,结合刺孔检测和饲料染色等方法,鉴定各波形的生物学意义。研究发现,人工饲料EPG波形与褐飞虱取食水稻产生的7种EPG波形相比存在差异。人工饲料EPG波形包括4种基本波形:np波,非刺探波;P波,口针刺入饲囊膜;S波,口针分泌唾液,并在人工饲料中移动;I波,吸食人工饲料。研究结果可为建立准确的人工饲料-刺吸电位技术体系提供基础。     

灰飞虱取食行为刺吸电位波形的初步研究

利用刺吸电位技术(EPG)研究了灰飞虱Laodelphax striatellus(Fallén)EPG波形与其取食行为之间的对应关系,并对不同虫龄、性别灰飞虱的取食行为进行EPG特征参数的比较。结果表明,灰飞虱取食行为的EPG波形可分为NP、N1、N2-a、N2-b、N3、N4和N5 7种类型,波谱的形状和频率与已报道的褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens(Stl)的EPG取食波形基本相同。首次发现灰飞虱在口针刺探水稻维管束进行唾液分泌时可明显分为两个阶段即N2-a和N2-b。N2-a波表示口针移动并伴随唾液的分泌;N2-b波与灰飞虱持续分泌唾液的行为有关。经对比,不同虫龄、性别灰飞虱的EPG取食波形基本相同,但EPG特征参数存在差异。雌虫刺探次数显著多于雄虫和低龄若虫;成虫口针在临近韧皮部细胞外移动的时间显著长于若虫。     

唾液成分在刺吸式昆虫与植物关系中的作用

近年来，人们对刺吸式昆虫唾液成分的研究，揭示出其在刺吸式昆虫与植物关系中的重要作用。对多数刺吸式昆虫而言，他们取食时会分泌胶状和水状两种唾液，其中胶状唾液会在取食早期分泌形成唾液鞘来围绕并保护口针，通过直接和间接的作用来帮助取食；而水状唾液中则包含了果胶酶、纤维素酶、多酚氧化酶、过氧化物酶、碱性磷酸酯酶、蔗糖酶等组分，来帮助刺吸式昆虫对植物穿刺、消化食物、解毒次生物质并破坏植物的防御反应。有趣的是，唾液成分同时还可以诱导植物的防御反应，包括诱导植物的伤信号引起直接防御反应和诱导植物产生挥发物吸引植食者的天敌引起间接防御反应。并且，许多刺吸式昆虫取 食能够特异性地引发植物的病理反应，有研究推测刺吸式昆虫唾液中多聚半乳糖醛酸酶、碱性磷酸酯酶、蔗糖酶、多酚氧化酶等成分可能是某些植物特定病理反应的激发子，但是目前还没有定论，同时许多刺吸式昆虫唾液中的氨基酸和蛋白酶还是引起植物虫瘿的原因之一。 迄今的研究表明，刺吸式昆虫会根据不同的寄主植物和不同的生理需要，通过唾液组分的改变，来达到取食和发育的目的。对刺吸式昆虫唾液成分和作用机理的研究，可以为揭示刺吸式昆虫致害机理特别是传毒机理、指导害虫有效治理、阐明其与植物的协同进化等提供一定的思路。     

EPG-Calc: a PHP-based script to calculate electrical penetration graph (EPG) parameters

Electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique is a powerful tool to investigate the hidden feeding behavior of piercing–sucking insects allowing to link recorded EPG waveforms to stylet penetration and complex behaviors related to feeding activities occurring within plant tissue. Calculating the numerous EPG parameters necessary to unravel the complex insect–plant interactions is very time consuming, and few tools have been developed to automate it. EPG-Calc is a rich internet application intended to fill this gap, providing a fast and user-friendly web-based interface that uses analysis files from dedicated software (STYLET⁺) or database-compatible CSV text files containing waveform codes and cumulative time as input, and produces output files in database-compatible CSV text or Microsoft Excel^® XLS format that are directly usable by different statistical analysis softwares. EPG-Calc greatly reduces the time needed for EPG parameters calculation and allows to calculate more than 100 different parameters based on standardized definitions and calculus methods in such a way that avoid confusion between all kinds of definitions and calculations by individual authors.     

Effects of jasmonate-induced defenses in tomato on the potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae

Jasmonates such as jasmonic acid (JA) are plant‐signaling compounds that trigger induced resistance (IR) to a broad range of arthropod herbivores. JA‐dependent defenses are known to reduce the growth and survivorship of many chewing insects, but their impact on piercing–sucking insects such as aphids has not been extensively investigated. In this study, induced resistance was activated in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) (Solanaceae) using a foliar application of synthetic JA, and control plants were treated with carrier solution. The life parameters of individual potato aphids and their progeny (Macrosiphum euphorbiae Thomas) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were evaluated on the unsprayed leaves of plants in order to access the systemic effects of the foliar treatments. IR significantly reduced the longevity and net reproduction of adult aphids, as well as the percentage of juveniles to survive to maturity. These results indicate that JA application induces systemic defenses in tomato that have a direct negative impact on aphid survivorship. This study also examined aphid honeydew excretion, in order to evaluate the potential influence of induced resistance on aphid feeding behavior. The average honeydew production per aphid was comparable on plants with or without JA treatment, indicating that JA‐dependent defenses did not deter feeding. This suggests that the observed effects of JA on aphid survivorship were due to antibiotic rather than antixenotic factors. In addition to studying the effects of JA treatment on a tomato cultivar that is susceptible to aphids, this study also examined the effects of exogenous application of JA on tomato plants that carry the aphid resistance gene, Mi‐1.2. JA application did not significantly enhance or inhibit aphid control on resistant tomato. These findings expand our understanding of the effects of JA‐dependent defenses on piercing–sucking insects, and of the potential interactions between induced resistance and R‐gene mediated aphid resistance in tomato.     

Electrical Penetration Graphs from Peregrinus maidis on a susceptible maize hybrid

The feeding behavior of Peregrinus maidis (Ashmead) (Homoptera: Delphacidae), vector of maize mosaic virus (MMV) and maize stripe virus (MStpV) in maize (Zea mays L.), has been studied by Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG). The different recordings collected have allowed the temporal distinction of three EPG signal classes. These class 1, class 2 and class 3 signals are correlated through histological sections to the feeding activities of probing, xylem ingestion and phloem ingestion, respectively. Although these signals are described by various statistical parameters, only the median allows significant differentiation between class 2 and class 3 signals, the others varying from one insect to the next. On the other hand, spectral analysis is used to describe the signal classes by associating a characteristic frequency spectrum to each. This study treats the importance of such analysis in characterizing and comparing the signals of various piercing and sucking insects.     

Intracellular punctures by the adult whitefly Bemisia argentifolii on DC and AC electronic feeding monitors

One of the most biologically important electrical penetration graph (EPG) waveforms recorded from aphids on DC EPG systems is the potential drop (pd), which is correlated with intracellular punctures by the stylet tips. In this study, pds of the adult female Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), recorded on a DC EPG, are characterized and compared to pds of aphids. Whitefly pds consisted of 3 phases similar to those recorded from probing aphids. The major difference between aphid pds and whitefly pds was that whitefly pds lacked any observable subphases within the second phase of the pd. In addition, whitefly pds differed from aphid pds in that they: (1) did not occur frequently during stylet penetration, (2) did not occur early within probes, (3) did not occur during brief probes (<1 min). Pds produced by probing whiteflies always were preceded by a variant of waveform C which we named the pre-pd. The differences between pds of aphids and whiteflies are discussed in terms of their implications for virus transmission and host selection. Using a technique where EPG recordings can be switched back and forth between DC and AC systems, we demonstrated that the AC EPG pseudotransition waveform (Pt) was equivalent to the DC pd, and thus was correlated with intracellular punctures. Previously, intracellular punctures by whiteflies had not been detectable on AC EPG systems. The AC Pt consisted of three distinct phases (Pt1, Pt2, and Pt3) and our observations suggest that AC Pt1 correlates with the pre-pd waveform in DC EPGs and that AC Pt 2 and 3 correlate with the intracellular phase of the DC pd. AC Pts (n=47) and DC pds (n=43) were recorded on three separate plant species and were similar on all plant species.     

Choice of Tethering Material Influences the Magnitude and Significance of Treatment Effects in Whitefly Electrical Penetration Graph Recordings

The electrical penetration graphing or electropenetrography (EPG) technique is essential for understanding interactions of hemipteran insects with their host plants. Typically, 10–12.5 μm diameter gold wire is used as the tethering material in EPG studies. This wire was originally chosen based on suitability for aphids, but application of the EPG technique to other insects necessitates testing of alternative tethering materials that permit natural foraging and probing behavior. Whiteflies are one group for which EPG studies are increasing, with most researchers using 10 or 12.5 μm diameter gold wire even though these insects are smaller than aphids and very different in mobility. However, 2.5 μm diameter Wollaston process platinum wire has been used for a subset of EPG studies and seems to permit more natural movement and feeding behaviors. Here, we compared EPG variables derived from recordings of the sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) tethered with 12.5 μm diameter gold wire or 2.5 μm diameter platinum wire. On a suitable host, gold-tethered whiteflies had reduced phloem phases, which are indicative of host plant acceptance, compared to platinum-tethered whiteflies. When we included a treatment known to reduce plant quality (methyl jasmonate application), platinum-tethered whiteflies exhibited expected reductions in EPG variables related to host acceptance, while gold-tethered whiteflies either had no response, or the opposite response. Our results indicate that tethering material strongly influences the outcome of EPG experiments, with important consequences for evaluations of host plant resistance, putative instances of plant virus manipulation, and feeding variables associated with virus transmission.     

How does atmospheric elevated CO2 affect crop pests and their natural enemies? Case histories from China

Abstract Global atmospheric CO₂ concentrations have risen rapidly since the Industrial Revolution and are considered as a primary factor in climate change. The effects of elevated CO₂ on herbivore insects were found to be primarily through the CO₂‐induced changes occurring in their host plants, which then possibly affect the intensity and frequency of pest outbreaks on crops. This paper reviews several ongoing research models using primary pests of crops (cotton bollworm, whitefly, aphids) and their natural enemies (ladybeetles, parasitoids) in China to examine insect responses to elevated CO₂. It is generally indicated that elevated CO₂ prolonged the development of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, a chewing insect, by decreasing the foliar nitrogen of host plants. In contrast, the phloem‐sucking aphid and whitefly insects had species‐specific responses to elevated CO₂ because of complex interactions that occur in the phloem sieve elements of plants. Some aphid species, such as cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii and wheat aphid, Sitobion avenae, were considered to represent the only feeding guild to respond positively to elevated CO₂ conditions. Although whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, a major vector of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, had neutral response to elevated CO₂, the plants became less vulnerable to the virus infection under elevated CO₂. The predator and parasitoid response to elevated CO₂ were frequently idiosyncratic. These documents from Chinese scientists suggested that elevated CO₂ initially affects the crop plant and then cascades to a higher trophic level through the food chain to encompass herbivores (pests), their natural enemies, pathogens and underground nematodes, which disrupt the natural balance observed previously in agricultural ecosystems.     

An aphid-borne bacterium allied to the secondary symbionts of whitefly

Bacterial 16S rDNA amplified by PCR from the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum included a sequence with >98% similarity to secondary symbionts in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. The 'pea aphid Bemisia-like bacterium' (PABS) and B. tabaci secondary symbionts are estimated to have diverged 17-34 million years ago, a time considerably more recent than the common ancestor of aphids and whitefly and suggestive of horizontal transmission of this bacterial lineage. PABS was scored in both the gut and ovaries of aphids by PCR and identified as a small rod by in situ hybridisation. PABS was not universal in pea aphids: 2/3 laboratory strains and 13/35 of field aphids were PABS-positive. It is suggested that the incidence of PABS in pea aphids is determined by the balance between loss (processes may include occasional failure of vertical transmission and selection against PABS-positive aphids) and horizontal transfer between insects.