An investigation of the differential performance of clones of the aphid Sitobion avenae on two host species

Individuals of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae were collected from wheat and cocksfoot stands around Hampshire, UK, during March and April 1994. Eight wheat and eight cocksfoot aphid clones were chosen on the basis of readily distinguishable RAPD-PCR fingerprint profiles. The performances (weight, fecundity and survival) of successive generations of each of these clones were then carefully monitored in the laboratory as new generations of aphids were transferred either to winter wheat or to cocksfoot in planned sequences. Even those clones that were originally caught on the same host showed significant variability in performance. Clones generally performed better on their host of origin than they did on the alternate host, and they performed less well on the alternate host compared to the clones that had originated there. A comparison of the performance of third generation aphids with first generation aphids showed that the experience of the mother in the second generation often influences the subsequent performance of their offspring. As the sequence of host transfers had more effect on the performance of wheat clones than cocksfoot clones, it is likely that wheat clones are more specialised, such that wheat is a satisfactory host for cocksfoot clones but not vice versa. The study provides evidence of genetic variation in performance on host and evidence for clonal adaptation to particular host species. This adaptation may well be a major cause of the observed consistent genetic differentiability of populations of S. avenae found on wheat and roadside grasses in early spring in southern England.