Toxic and deterrent effects of phytohemagglutinin on the grain aphid Sitobion avenae

The toxicity and deterrent effects of phytoheamagglutinin (Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin, PHA) to the grain aphid (Sitobion avenae F.) was investigated in the laboratory by use of liquid diets or gels containing various PHA concentrations. The addition of PHA to the liquid diet increased the aphid pre-reproductive period, mortality, and generation time and decreased aphid fecundity and intrinsic rate of natural increase. Aphids fed on sucrose-agarose gels with higher concentrations of PHA exhibited no phloem-feeding behavior. The number of gel penetrations was reduced and duration of the pathway phase was increased as PHA concentration increased. These results indicate that PHA is detrimental to S. avenae and that the effect of PHA is at least partially explained by suppression of feeding behaviour. PHA could be useful for managing S. avenae.     

Cold hardiness and overwintering of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae

ABSTRACT.

• 1 Cold hardiness as measured by supercooling ability in the active stages of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae (F.) decreased progressively with maturation.
• 2 Aphids showed no acclimation response when maintained at low temperatures.
• 3 Starvation did not improve supercooling ability.
• 4 In a single exposure, surface moisture caused inoculation above the inherent supercooling point in a small proportion of a population.
• 5 Field populations show a seasonal change in supercooling ability, which is at a maximum in summer and a minimum in late winter.
• 6 It is concluded that the act of feeding on healthy plant tissue may confer extensive supercooling ability.

     

Antimetabolic effect of phytohemagglutinin to the grain aphid Sitobion avenae fabricius

The insecticidal activity of plant lectins against a wide range of insect species have been intensively studied. Understanding the mechanism of the toxicity of lectins is one of the studied aspects. In the present research, the first step was determine the effect of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) on the development, fecundity and mortality of grain aphid. Next, the effect of PHA lectin on the activity of such enzymes as: α- and β-glucosidases, alkaline (AkP) and acid (AcP) phosphatases, aminopeptidase N and cathepsin L involved in the metabolism of sugar, phosphorus and proteins of an adult apterae aphids was investigated. The PHA lectin added into the liquid diet increased the pre-reproductive period, mortality of Sitobion avenae, the time of generation development and decreased its fecundity and the intrinsic rate of natural increase. In addition, activity of α-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase and aminopeptidase N of adult apterae exposed to PHA were reduced. The results indicate that the insecticidal activity of PHA on S. avenae may involve changes in activity of the enzymes in the midgut and it may be part of its toxicity.     

The spatial and temporal distribution of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae in winter wheat

The spatial and temporal distribution of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae F. (Homoptera: Aphididae) was studied within a field of winter wheat during the summer of 1996. Sampling was done using four nested grids comprising 133 locations. Analysis by Taylor's power law gave results typical for insect populations. Analysis by SADIE (Spatial Analysis by Distance Indices) showed spatial pattern due to edge effects and sampling scale, and positive but mild spatial association, although spatial patterns were ephemeral. Reasons for these findings and the implications for integrated crop management are discussed.     

Biochemical basis of winter wheat resistance to the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae

Six winter wheat cultivars with differing degrees of resistance to the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.), were studied under field conditions. Resistance was measured in terms of non-preference and antibiosis on plants at seven growth stages. The varieties Saga and Grana were most resistant in terms of both non-preference and antibiosis to S. avenae at all growth stages examined. The varieties Liwilla and Dana were relatively susceptible to aphid attack. The number of aphids was directly proportional to the total content of free and essential amino acids. The level of resistance showed a similar, but not identical, relationship with the observed concentration of soluble proteins. A higher degree of cultivar resistance was associated with a higher value on a toxicity index, which is the ratio between the free-phenols and free-amino acids content. Obtained results suggest that the resistance of winter wheat cultivars to the grain aphid was based mainly on the mechanism of antibiosis.

---

Résumé Six cultivars de blé d'hiver, présentant différents degrés de résistance au puceron des grains, S. avenae, ont été étudiés dans la nature. La résistance a été évaluée en fonction de l'antibiose et de l'absence de préférence de plantes à 7 stades de développement. Les variétés Saga et Grana ont été les plus résistantes, suivant ces deux critères, pour tous les stades de puceron étudiés. Les variétés Liwilla et Dana ont été relativement sensibles. Les effectifs de pucerons étaient proportionnels à la teneur totale en acides aminés libres essentiels. Les concentrations en protéines solubles présentent une relation de même type, mais pas identique, avec le niveau de résistance. Un haut degré de résistance a été associé à une valeur élevée de l'indice de toxicité, rapport entre les phénols libres et la teneur en acides aminés libres. Ces résultats suggèrent une résistance des cultivars de blé d'hiver à S. avenae liée principalement aux mécanismes d'antibiose.

     

The role of awns in the resistance of cereals to the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae

Six genotypes of awned spring wheat were more resistant to Sitobion avenae than de-awned wheat. Aphids that fed on awns were up to 22% less fecund and were more likely to be dislodged than aphids that fed elsewhere on an ear. These two factors reduced aphid population growth on awned earing plants in the field to a third of that observed on awnless plants. As awns may also benefit yield and are easy to select for it is recommended that awned winter wheats could be bred and used to reduce the incidence of outbreaks of S. avenae.     

Reproductive stragegies of the alate and apterous morphs of the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae

Differences were observed in the total fecundity and patterns of reproduction of four morphs of Sitobion avenae (F.). The reproductive rates of apterous and alate exules declined gradually with time but decreased rapidly in gynoparae and oviparae. Under short daylengths apterous exules gave birth in three phases; the first consisting mainly of gynoparae, the second of males and the third of non-gynoparous viviparae. The strategic importance of the sequence of morphs and the reproductive behaviour of each is discussed in relation to the maximization of overwintering population size.

---

Stratégies reproductives des types ailés et aptères de Sitobion avenae F.

Résumé Des différences ont été observées entre les fécondités totales et les modes de reproduction de quatre types de Sitobion avenae. Les taux de reproduction diminuent graduellement dans le temps chez les aptères et ailés virginopares et rapidement chez les gynopares et ovipares. En photophases courtes, les virginopares aptères donnent naissance à trois types: le premier composé essentiellement de gynopares, le second de mâles et le troisième de vivipares. L'importance stratégique de la succession des types et du comportement reproducteur de chacun est discutée en relation avec l'accroissement maximum de la taille de la population hivernante.

     

Methods of hatching the eggs and rearing the fundatrices of the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae

Several methods for hatching the eggs and rearing individuals of the first generation (fundatrices) of Sitobion avenae were investigated. The most successful methods were incubation of the eggs on grass seedlings at 2°C and rearing the fundatrices on grass seedlings (overall survival 66%) and incubation of the eggs in plastic boxes at 2°C and rearing the fundatrices on wheat seedlings (overall survival 62%).

---

Résumé L'éclosion des oeufs de S. avenae peut être induite par le transfert à 10°C ou 12°C, après une incubation de 75–120 jours à 2°C. Le pourcentage le plus élevé d'éclosions a été obtenu quand les oeufs avaient incubé pendant 100 à 110 jours à 2°C (67% at 71.5% respectivement) dans des petites boîtes de plastique, ou pendant 100 jours à 2°C sur des pousses de graminées (73.5%). Si les oeufs sont pondus sur blé, la plante ne peut pas tolérer la période d'incubation, mais cet obstacle peut être surmonté en obligeant les ovipares à pondre leurs oeufs sur de pousses de graminées, comme Poa annua, hôte convenable pour les fondatrices. Les ovipares peuvent aussi pondre sans difficultés sur autre chose que des végétaux, et des récipients peuvent ètre mis à incuber sans contenir du matériel végétal.

     

Pattern of growth in weight of alate and apterous nymphs of the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae

Daily increase in fresh weight was recorded for apterous and alate nymphs of S. avenae at 20°C. Comparison with a control group indicated that daily disturbance and weighing of nymphs did not affect significantly their growth, developmental time or survival. The increase in fresh weight of apterous and alate virginoparae at 20°C was best described by logistic equations. Alate virginoparae were significantly heavier than apterous virginoparae at birth and throughout most of their nymphal life, but they experienced a weight loss at the final ecdysis. The relative growth rate did not remain constant, but declined during development. The decline is associated with a decline in honeydew production per unit body weight. The implications of an inconstant relative growth rate and the marked loss in weight at the adult moult in alates are discussed.

---

Résumé L'enregistrement de l'augmentation quotidienne du poids frais à 20°C des larves ailées et aptères de S. avenae a montré que des perturbations quotidiennes n'affectent pas significativement la croissance, la durée du développement et la survie. Les équations logistiques décrivent plus exactement l'augmentation de poids frais des aptères et des ailés virginipares à 20°C. Les virginipares ailés étaient significativement plus lourds que les virginipares aptères à la naissance et pendant la plus grande partie de la vie larvaire, mais présentaient une perte de poids à la mue finale. Le taux de croissance relative ne restait pas constant, mais diminuait au cours du développement. La diminution était associée à une diminution de la production de miellat par unité de poids du corps. La discussion porte sur les conséquences de la variation de l'augmentation du poids relatif et de la perte marquée de poids à la mue imaginale.

     

四种类型杀虫剂对麦长管蚜的温度效应及其与主要解毒酶的关系

为了明确杀虫剂毒力受温度的影响及其程度,本文测定了4大类8种药剂在10～25℃下对麦长管蚜的毒力;并测定了麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae(Fabricius)在不同温度下2个解毒酶和1个靶标酶的活性差异。结果表明,高效氯氰菊酯对麦长管蚜表现不规则负温度系数,啶虫脒表现不规则正温度系数,高效氟氯氰菊酯对麦长管蚜的毒力不受温度影响,其他药剂(辛硫磷、毒死蜱、灭多威、丁硫克百威、吡虫啉)均表现为明显的正温度系数效应,以有机磷类杀虫剂表现最为明显,毒死蜱温度系数高达57.70。酶活性实验表明:麦长管蚜在高温下GST活性增强,羧酸酯酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶活性降低。它们的变化规律表明:GST活性与负温度系数密切相关,正温度系数与羧酸酯酶活性和靶标酶乙酰胆碱酯酶活性有关。     

Influence of the hyperparasitoid Dendrocerus carpenteri on the reproduction of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae

1.Alate S. avenae (F.) reproduced earlier and produced more offspring in the vicinity of Dendrocerus carpenteri (Curtis) females than control aphids without neighbouring hyperparasitoids.
2. This effect was evident only during the first 6 days of the aphid's reproduction period and did not affect the physiological condition of the aphids or their offspring.
3. Virgin hyperparasitoid females had a stronger influence on the reproduction rate of the aphids than did mated females, probably due to an unidentified emitted volatile sex pheromone.     

Genetic structure and clonal diversity of an introduced pest in Chile, the cereal aphid Sitobion avenae

In Chile, the aphid Sitobion avenae is of recent introduction, lives on cultivated and wild Poaceae, and is thought to reproduce by permanent parthenogenesis. In order to study the genetic variability and population structure of this species, five microsatellite loci were typed from individual aphids collected from different cultivated and wild host plants, from different geographical zones, and years. Chilean populations showed a high degree of heterozygosity and a low genetic variability across regions and years, with four predominant genotypes representing nearly 90% of the sample. This pattern of low clonal diversity and high heterozygosity was interpreted as the result of recent founder events from a few asexually reproducing genotypes. Most geographical and temporal variation observed in the genetic composition resulted from fluctuations of a few predominant clones. In addition, comparisons of the genotypes found in Chile with those described in earlier surveys of S. avenae populations in Western Europe led us to identify 'superclones' with large geographical distribution and high ecological success, and to make a preliminary exploration of the putative origin(s) of S. avenae individuals introduced to Chile.     

The major carotenoid pigments of the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The economically important grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.) shows colour polymorphism, with brown and green forms predominating. Colour is determined both genetically and in response to environmental factors, including nutrition. The biological significance of the colour polymorphism is unknown, although seasonal changes occur in the frequency of colour morphs in the field, whilst the brown morph may have adaptive significance in terms of hymenopterous endoparasitism. The ground colour of aphids is produced by haemolymph pigments, aphins (glucosides) and carotenoids. The latter may be under the synthetic control of intracellular endosymbiotic bacteria. In this study, the major carotenoid pigments of a brown and a green clone of S. avenae were examined using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and their absorbance spectra recorded. Using TLC, the brown clone produced five bands of different R_f, ranging from yellow, to orange-pink to pink in colour. In contrast, the green clone gave only a single yellow band of higher R_f than any of the bands of brown aphids. Following separation of carotenoids by HPLC, brown aphids gave seven peaks and green aphids five. Comparison of absorbance maxima with known published values for carotenoids provides strong evidence for the identification of four of the carotenoid pigments from brown aphids (RB-4, 3,4-didehydrolycopene; RB-5, torulene; RB-6; lycopene; RB-7, γ-carotene) and one from green aphids (RG-2, α-carotene). The other carotenoids remain unidentified. The biosynthesis and possible biological relevance of the various pigments of S. avenae are briefly discussed.     

Short-term forecasting of peak population density of the grain aphid (Sitobion avenae) on wheat

The trends in population density of Sitobion avenae in wheat fields were analysed for a total of 32 sites over the period 1975 to 1983 in eastern England and the Netherlands. The peak population density on each field was positively correlated with the population densities at the end of ear emergence, mid-anthesis and the end of anthesis. It was also positively correlated with the observed rates of increase of the aphids on the crop immediately before these stages. Both parameters were incorporated in multiple regressions to forecast peak population density, and data from a further nine populations monitored in 1984 was used to validate the model. The accuracy of these forecasts, based on two counts on the crop, increased from ear emergence to the end of anthesis, the forecast at mid-anthesis of peak density being much more accurate than any other published method.     

Orco mediates olfactory behaviors and winged morph differentiation induced by alarm pheromone in the grain aphid,Sitobion avenae

Olfaction is crucial for short distance host location and pheromone detection by insects. Complexes of olfactory receptors (ORs) are composed of odor-specific ORs and OR co-receptors (Orco). Orcos are widely co-expressed with odor-specific ORs and are conserved across insect taxa. A number of Orco orthologs have been studied to date, although none has been identified in cereal aphids. In this study, an Orco gene ortholog was cloned from the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae, and named “SaveOrco”; RNA interference (RNAi) reduced the expression of SaveOrco to 34.11% in aphids, resulting in weaker EAG (electroantennogram) responses to plant volatiles (Z-3-hexene-1-ol; methyl salicylate, MeSA) and aphid alarm pheromone (E-β-farnesene, EBF). Aphid wing differentiation induced by EBF was investigated in both RNAi treated and untreated aphids. EBF induced production of winged aphids in both pre-natal and post-natal periods in untreated aphids, but no such induction was observed in the RNAi-treated aphids. We conclude that SaveOrco is crucial for the aphid's response to pheromones and other volatiles, and is involved in wing differentiation triggered by EBF.     

Molecular-genetic evidence of aphid pathogen Pandora kondoiensis infection in Sitobion avenae collected in Denmark

Entomophthoralean-specific primers were used to estimate the occurrence of entomophthoralean species in the cereal aphid Sitobion avenae in Denmark. Sequencing documented for the first time the presence of Pandora kondoiensis in Denmark. Specific primers were designed and P. kondoiensis was identified on 12% of infested straws sampled in 2012.     

Short-term forecasting of wheat yield loss caused by the grain aphid (Sitobion avenae) in summer

A damage model was used to take into account the effect on winter wheat yield of the size, duration and timing of Sitobion avenae infestation in summer, and the influence of insecticide applications. It was validated as far as possible using available data, and appeared to be sufficiently accurate to be useful. The model was applied to a total of 32 winter wheat fields over the period 1975 to 1983 in eastern England and the Netherlands, to obtain estimates of yield losses associated with not applying insecticides at the end of ear emergence (G.S. 59), mid-anthesis (G.S. 65) or the end of anthesis (G.S. 69). These estimates of future yield losses were related in multiple regressions to the number of S. avenae per tiller at the time the insecticide was applied, and the rate of population increase over the previous few days. Basing the decision about whether to apply insecticide on forecasts from the multiple regression equations appeared to be slightly more profitable than prophylactic spraying when the chemical cost alone was considered, but substantially more profitable when the application cost and wheeling loss were also taken into account. The strategy minimising losses involved forecasts at all three crop growth stages. It was validated using a further 21 fields studied in 1984 and 1985, and gave better results than the EPIPRE system, which over-estimated the number of fields requiring spraying, and the economic threshold of George & Gair (1979), which under-estimated the number requiring spraying. However, the accuracy of the damage model needs to be checked against measured yield losses in order to establish the success of the multiple regression strategy conclusively.     

The effect of reducing growth in winter wheat on the population dynamics of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae (F.)

1 The effect of reducing the growth of winter wheat on population size and development of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae was studied. 2 Automatic, mobile, crop shading devices, which reduced radiation comparable to levels found on a cloudy day, whilst minimizing other climatic changes, were used to reduce crop growth. Shading was applied between either GS 31 and 39 (1st node detectable → flag leaf ligule just visible) or GS 39 and 55 (flag leaf just visible → 50% of inflorescence emerged). 3 Sitobion avenae populations were initiated at GS 55 and highest populations were subsequently observed on plants shaded between GS 31 and 39. 4 Individual aphids confined within clip cages were observed to measure development from birth to adult moult, adult lifespan and fecundity. Results indicated that adult lifespan was shortest on plants shaded between GS31 and 39, whilst there were no differences in development time or fecundity. 5 Possible explanations for these observations are discussed.