The effects of growth stage in wheat on yield reductions caused by the rose-grain aphid Metopolophium dirhodum

Field-caged populations of the rose-grain aphid Metopolophium dirhodum were established on winter wheat (cv. Bounty) during the summer of 1981. An early wheat growth stage (G.s.) (40 to 69) and a late (G.s. 65 to 73) aphid infestation treatment were compared; only the early infestation resulted in a significant reduction in grain weight (15%), although the infestation sizes were similar in the two treatments. Baking quality of the flour was unaffected by both treatments. Caged populations were also established on winter wheat (cv. Avalon) in 1982 but, in spite of aphid numbers as large as in 1981, no significant yield loss was recorded. An infection of take-all fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis developed during the course of this experiment and may have masked the effect of the aphids.     

Duration of cereal aphid populations and the effects on wheat yield and breadmaking quality

Field-caged and open-plot populations of the aphid Sitobion avenae on winter wheat (cv. Maris Widgeon) were sampled approximately twice-weekly in the summer of 1978. Cage populations began at growth stage 10.2 (Feekes scale) (Zadoks, G. S. 52); they were removed by spraying with pirimicarb at growth stages 10.54 (71), 11.1–11.2 (77) and 11.2–11.3 (85) respectively. All cage populations reduced mean weight per grain but the effect per aphid unit was lowest in the population of longest duration. Although the aphid index in the open plots was higher than that in the early cage treatment, yield was unaffected. Cage infestations affected the breadmaking quality of the grain: percentage flour extraction was reduced and there was an increase in colour, nicotinic acid content and thiamine (vitamin B₁) content of the flour; percentage nitrogen in the flour was unaffected but there was a reduction in baking value and in the high molecular weight glutenin content; infestation also reduced α-amylase activity. Different aspects of grain quality did not change in parallel with one another or with yield changes and thus damage thresholds will vary according to the yield/quality measure under consideration.     

The phylloplane microflora of ripening wheat and effect of late fungicide applications

Flag leaves and ears of spring wheat cv. Timmo (in 1980) and winter wheat cv. Maris Huntsman in 1981 and 1982 were colonised by a variety of micro-organisms whose numbers increased rapidly between anthesis and harvest. The predominant mycoflora were yeasts, yeast-like fungi and filamentous fungi which included Cladosporium spp., Verticillium lecanii, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium spp. and Epicoccum nigrum. Although similar species were isolated, their relative abundance on flag leaves and ears differed. The fungicide captafol was most effective as a protectant and significantly decreased populations of fungi on flag leaves and ears for 6 and 4 wk respectively, compared to untreated controls. Benomyl and Delsene M (carbendazim + maneb) were the most effective of the systemic sprays and formulations. In general, fungicides affected populations of yeasts, yeast-like fungi and Cladosporium spp. most while Alternaria was tolerant of all treatments. Yields of winter wheat were increased in two seasons by an average 0–2 t ha^-1 (2–4%) following a single late fungicide treatment at G.S. 50 or 60 and 0–41 t ha^-1 (5-1%) when this was combined with an early spray against foliar diseases (G.S. 38–40). Individual treatments increased yield by up to 12% with little difference between applications at G.S. 50 or 60. The yield benefit came mainly from increased 1000-grain weights. Germination of the treated grain was increased only slightly.     

Aphid suppression by natural enemies in mulched cereals

Large populations of natural enemies are the basis for natural pest control. Effects of mulch on predator–prey interactions in arable fields are poorly known, despite its potential to enhance ground‐dwelling predators and thereby reduce pest infestations. We studied the densities of predators and parasitoids, and their impact on cereal aphids in the presence and absence of mulch. Released populations of the bird cherry aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Homoptera: Aphididae), and two naturally occurring aphid species, were monitored under experimentally reduced densities of: (i) ground‐dwelling predators, (ii) flying predators and parasitoids, and (iii) with straw mulch. The three treatments were applied in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design in a field of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The exclusion of ground‐dwelling predators increased aphid populations by 55% in June and 40% in July, respectively. Mulched plots had 25% lower aphid densities in June. This was presumably due to enhanced densities of spiders (Araneida) in mulched plots. The exclusion of flying predators and parasitoids led to 94% higher aphid populations in late July (109 vs. 56 individuals per 100 shoots), irrespective of mulch or ground predator manipulation. This was attributed to the larvae of gall midges Aphidoletes cf. aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae). The results indicate that a scarcity of predators and a bare soil surface renders crops more susceptible to arthropod pests. Farming schemes should aim at enhancing both ground‐dwelling and flying predators for elevated levels of natural pest control.     

Reproductive potential and lifetime potential fecundity of the freshwater amphipods Gammarus fossarunt and G. roeseli in Austrian streams and rivers

• 1 Fecundity of Gammarus fossarum populations at six stream sites (S1-S6) and G. roeseli populations at two sites (S5 and S6) was studied monthly during 1985–1988, distinguishing seven morphological stages of embryonic development. Mean survival of G. fossarum eggs was 65% (60–70%) in nature and 60% (57–63%) in the laboratory; egg survival of G. roeseli was 52% (46–58%) in nature and 41% (35–47%) in the laboratory. Regressions of egg numbers per clutch against body wet weight (WWT) decreased significantly for egg developmental stages 2 to 7 (hatching).
• 2 In stream populations, ovigerous females of G. fossarum were absent in October (six sites) and November (five sites); ovigerous G. roeseli were usually absent from October until March.
• 3 Overall mean egg volume (EV) increased significantly from 0,08 ± 0.001 mm³ and 0.075 ± 0.001 mm³ for stage 2 eggs, to 0.174 ± 0.012mm³ and 0.160 ± 0.013 mm³ for stage 6 eggs of G. fossarum and G. roeseli, respectively. The dry weights of stage 2 eggs, stage 6 eggs and neonates (stage 7) were not significantly different, within and between species; mean dry weight was 36 ± 3 μg.
• 4 Egg volumes and fecundity indices (FI, weight-specific number of eggs per clutch) were not significantly different between the same months of four successive years, so the data were pooled to give a single representative ‘year’. At most sites there were marked seasonal fluctuations in these variables. In both species, mean EV was largest for ‘winter’ eggs in December/January and smallest for ‘summer’ eggs in May, EV decreased during some months of the year when FI increased, and vice versa. Mean reproductive effort (RE = EV × FI) declined from high ‘winter’ values to low ‘summer’ values, and this difference was most marked at sites where the major foodstuff available was seasonally limited (autumn-shed tree leaves). Overall (‘annual’) mean RE was also lowest at these sites (S3 and S4) but was some 13% greater at sites where nutrients and food were present in the greatest quantifies (S5 and S6). Specific maximum potential body sizes and hence maximum potential fecundities (fifty-nine eggs for G. fossarum and eighty-seven eggs for G. roeseli) were attained only at S5 and 56. Mean RE was nearly identical for G. fossarum and G. roeseli from the same sites.
• 5 At experimental temperatures (T) in the range 3.8–20.2°C, females of the same body weight carried significantly different egg numbers per clutch. The relationship between FI and T was described by a second-order polynomial. The calculated optimum T was 12.1°C for G. fossarum and 16.3°C for G. roeseli. Interspecific differences were highly significant.
• 6 Theoretical lifetime potential fecundity was approximately 194 eggs for G. fossarum

     

Nucleotide sequence and presumed secondary structure of the 28S rRNA of pea aphid implication for diversification of insect rRNA

Determination of the entire nucleotide sequence of the aphid 28S ribosomal RNA gene (28S rDNA) revealed that it is 4,147 by in length with a G + C content of 60.3%. Based on the nucleotide sequence, we constructed a presumed secondary-structure model of the aphid 28S rRNA which indicated that the aphid 28S rRNA is characterized by the length and high G + C content of its variable regions. The G + C content of the aphid's variable regions was much higher than that of the entire sequence of the 28S rRNA, which formed a striking contrast to those ofDrosophila with the G + C content much lower than the entire 28S molecule. In this respect, the aphid 28S rRNA somewhat resembled those of vertebrates. This is the third report of a complete large-subunit rRNA sequence from an arthropod, and the first 28S rRNA sequence for a nondipterous insect. Correspondence to: H. Ishikawa     

Seasonal abundance of the crapemyrtle aphid,Sarucallis kahawaluokalani,in relation to the pecan aphids,Monellia caryella andMonelliopsis pecanis and their common predators

The seasonal abundance of the crapemyrtle aphid,Sarucallis kahawaluokalani (Kirkaldy), and the majority of its predators that are common with the yellow pecan aphid,Monelliopsis pecanis Bissel, and the blackmargined aphid,Monellia caryella (Fitch), were determined in norh Florida.S. kahawaluokalani populations were tri — and bimodal in the 2 years studied and peak populations ofS. kahawaluokalani preceeded those of the pecan aphid complex. Peaks in predator populations consisting of Coccinellidae, Syrphidae, Chrysopidae and Anthocoridae, either coincided with or occurred just afterS. kahawaluokalani peaks. The implications of the findings with respect to use ofS. kahawaluokalani as an alternate host of predators of pecan aphids and the potential for manipulation of the system to enhance biological control in pecan are discussed. The use of this system is advocated for augmentation and manipulation of generalist predators in other crop systems. Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series N^o 7294.     

The influence of nitrogen fertiliser on the population development of the cereal aphids Sitobion avenae (F.) and Metopolophium dirhodum (Wlk.) on field grown winter wheat

The effect of nitrogen fertiliser on populations of the cereal aphids Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum on winter wheat was investigated in a three year field experiment. Naturally occurring aphid populations were monitored on three nitrogen treatments; none, nitrogen application using Canopy Management guidelines (130–210 kg ha^-1) and conventional practice (190 kg ha^-1). Inoculations of laboratory reared S. avenae were used to enhance field populations on half the plots. Natural populations of M. dirhodum remained below the current UK spray threshold level of two-thirds of shoots infested at the start of flowering, or five aphids per shoot in all years, whilst populations of S. avenae exceeded the threshold in all years. The response of the two species to nitrogen differed. Significantly higher populations of M. dirhodum were recorded in both treatments which received nitrogen in all years, whilst the response of S. avenae varied between years. In 1994 and 1995 when environmental conditions favoured aphid development, higher populations were recorded in the two treatments which received nitrogen. In 1993 when high rainfall created unfavourable conditions, higher populations were recorded in the plots receiving no nitrogen. Differences in peak density and cumulative aphid index of S. avenae resulted from differences in the rate of population increase between ear emergence and peak density on the different treatments. Populations prior to ear emergence were higher in the plots which received nitrogen but the differences were not statistically significant. There was no evidence of a difference in the timing of population decline in the different treatments. In 1993 higher levels of infection by entomopathogenic fungi were observed in all treatments. Significantly higher levels of infection were recorded in the treatments receiving nitrogen, which may have accounted for the lower S. avenae populations recorded. It is possible that the larger canopies recorded in these treatments produced conditions which favoured infection by fungi, thereby limiting aphid population growth. The results indicate that application of nitrogen increases natural populations of M. dirhodum, and under favourable conditions, populations of S. avenae. However, in suboptimal climatic conditions, the application of nitrogen fertiliser can lead to lower populations of 5. avenae. The data also suggest that there is no consistent difference between a conventional and Canopy Managed approach to nitrogen fertiliser use in terms of the risk of infestation by cereal aphids.     

The effect of predators and hymenopterous parasites on population fluctuations of alfalfa aphids

Among alfalfa pests in Iran three aphid species, green alfalfa aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris spotted alfalfa aphid Therioaphis trifolii forma maculata Buckton and blue alfalfa aphid, Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji are important pests. The green alfalfa aphid can be observed all along the growing season particularly from late May to mid June at Karaj climate conditions. During this period, the mean monthly maximum temperature and relative humidity were about 28 degrees C and 60-65% respectively. This aphid overwinters as nymph and viviparous female. Sexual forms and eggs could not be seen under field conditions. Spotted alfalfa aphid, Therioaphis trifolii fonna maculata is the most prevalent aphid in summer time, when the mean monthly maximum temperature and relative humidity are about 33-34 degrees C and 44-58% respectively. Sexual individuals have been observed in the laboratory but not in the field. Among predators (Coccinella septempunctata, Adonia variegata, Syrphus cinctus, S. corolae, S. grassulariae, Chrysoperla carnea and Nabis capsiformis) one coccinellid species, C. septempunctata, had greatest impact on fluctuations of population. Among hymenopterous parasitoids two species have been collected from alfalfa field they were Aphidius ervi and Praon palitans. These parasitoids destroyed a good percent of aphids and statistically proved to lower aphid populations significantly.     

Host plant and competitor identity matter in genotype × genotype × environment interactions between vetch and pea aphids

1. Selection does not only operate in a genotype (G) × environment (E) context, but can also be modulated by the activities of organisms interacting with their environment (G × G × E). 2. The influences of aphid clonal identity and host plant (Vicia faba) intraspecific genetic variation on the performance of five genotypes of pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) were investigated – with and without interaction with a competing heterospecific clone of vetch aphid (Megoura viciae) – across three cultivars of V. faba. 3. Pea aphid performance in the presence of a competing vetch aphid clone (G × G × E) compared with the absence of competition (G × E) revealed strong context‐dependent, genotype‐specific shifts in performance, influenced by plant cultivar, competitor presence and their interaction. 4. The performance of vetch aphid in competition with each pea aphid clone was also compared. Here, competitor's genotype and abundance underlay a remarkably varied response by vetch aphid across interactions. 5. The study shows that aphid genotypes exhibit a varying degree of risk spreading, contingent on competitor identity and the patterns of aggregation across three plant cultivars. Owing to feedback loops between species activities and selective forces acting on them, our findings suggest that there are context‐dependent responses by competitors that are shaped via the interplay of the co‐occurring species and their biotic environment. 6. This work highlights the complexity of species interactions and the importance of investigating reciprocity between competition and intraspecific genetic variation. A better understanding of the eco‐evolutionary interactions between phloem‐feeding insects and their host plants can potentially be used to enhance crop protection and pest control.     

Host genotype–endosymbiont associations and their relationship with aphid parasitism at the field level

1. The relationship between endosymbionts and insects represent complex eco‐evolutionary interactions. Vertically transmitted endosymbionts can be a source of evolutionary novelty by conferring ecologically important traits to their insect hosts, such as protection against natural enemies. Host–endosymbiont associations could constitute an adaptive complex (holobiont) on which selective pressures present in the environment can act, being transferred to the next generation. 2. Although several laboratory‐based studies have confirmed host genotype × symbiont interactions, few studies have been directed at those associations in the natural populations and their ability to protect themselves from parasitism pressure at the field level. 3. A field‐based approach to study the aphid genotype–endosymbiont associations and its relationship with the total parasitism in the grain aphid Sitobion avenae was conducted. From the field study, experiments were carried out to study the defensive effect of the two most common facultative endosymbionts (Regiella insecticola and Hamiltonella defensa) present in S. avenae against one of the most important parasitoid species, Aphidius ervi. 4. Evidence is presented here of a high specificity of the aphid clone–endosymbiont associations in the field; however, the field and experimental results here do not support a relationship between the aphid clone–endosymbiont associations and a proxy of total parasitism in S. avenae. These findings highlight the importance of particular host clone–endosymbiont couplings as a key factor in gaining an understanding of the coevolutionary dynamics of endosymbionts in nature and their effect on the invasive potential of pest insects.     

Reproductive strategies of Diaeretiella rapae (Hymenoptera: Aphidiinae) during fluctuating temperatures of spring season in New Zealand

Reproductive activities of naturally occurring population of Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh) (Hymenoptera: Aphidiinae) on Myzus persicae were studied during spring season in New Zealand. The cabbage seedlings were highly infested with the aphids (272±25 individuals/plant) with about 30% on average parasitised by D. rapae. Rate of parasitism was positively correlated with the aphid density (R ²=0.64). Adult emergence from aphid mummies was 90%, with a higher frequency of females than males. Increase in female/male sex ratio was found between early and late spring (1.1 vs. 1.8). Mating in D. rapae occurred throughout the day. Nearly half of the mating pairs collected were male–male pairs, which were especially prevalent during morning and evening while more male–female mating pairs were found during midday. Male–male mounting was probably because of low number of virgin females in morning and evening populations. About 80% females were mounted by smaller size males. Male–male mounting is discussed in correlation with operational sex ratio of D. rapae population.     

Microbiota associated with Mollitrichosiphum aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Greenideinae): diversity,host species specificity and phylosymbiosis

Symbiotic association is universal in nature, and an array of symbionts play a crucial part in host life history. Aphids and their diverse symbionts have become a good model system to study insect-symbiont interactions. Previous symbiotic diversity surveys have mainly focused on a few aphid clades, and the relative importance of different factors regulating microbial community structure is not well understood. In this study, we collected 65 colonies representing eight species of the aphid genus Mollitrichosiphum from different regions and plants in southern China and Nepal and characterized their microbial compositions using Illumina sequencing of the V3 − V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. We evaluated how microbiota varied across aphid species, geography and host plants and the correlation between microbial community structure and host aphid phylogeny. Heritable symbionts dominated the microbiota associated with Mollitrichosiphum, and multiple infections of secondary symbionts were prevalent. Ordination analyses and statistical tests highlighted the contribution of aphid species in shaping the structures of bacterial, symbiont and secondary symbiont communities. Moreover, we observed a significant correlation between Mollitrichosiphum aphid phylogeny and microbial community composition, providing evidence for a pattern of phylosymbiosis between natural aphid populations and their microbial associates.     

Spread of barley yellow dwarf virus and relative importance of local aphid vectors in central Washington

Data from bioassays of field collected aphids, barley indicator plants exposed to natural conditions, and various types of aphid traps were used to describe the spread of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) in wheat and barley near Prosser, Washington. Bioassays were also used to assess the relative importance of local vector species. Of alate aphids collected from grain in the 1982 and 1983 fall migration seasons, 3.4–14–5% transmitted BYDV. Data from concurrent and post-migration assays of resident aphids (apterae and nymphs) reflected an increase in the proportion of infected plants in the field. Maximum increase in the percentage of viruliferous aphids occurred in late November and December of 1982 and November of 1983. The 1982 increase occurred after aphid flights had ceased for the year, suggesting active secondary spread. Collections in pitfall traps and infected trap plants from November to February confirmed aphid activity and virus spread. Rhopalosiphum padi was the most important vector in central Washington in 1982 and 1983 because of its abundance and relative BYDV transmission efficiency. Metopolophium dirhodum was more winter-hardy than R. padi and equal to R. padi in its efficiency as a vector; however, it was not as abundant as R. padi except during the mild winter of 1982–83, when it was a major contributor to secondary spread. Sitobion avenae may be important in years when it is abundant, but it was only a quarter as efficient as R. padi. Rhopalosiphum maidis was a much less efficient vector than R. padi and it only reached high populations in late autumn barley.     

Common facultative endosymbionts do not influence sensitivity of cereal aphids to pyrethroids

1. Cereal aphids, including the bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi, and the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae, can transmit viruses that significantly reduce crop yields. To mitigate against yield losses, insecticides are routinely used to manage aphid populations.
2. Aphids can form relationships with endosymbionts that confer fitness benefits or consequences to the aphid. Recent artificial inoculation experiments indicate that endosymbionts could increase aphid susceptibility to insecticides, but this has not been explored using aphid populations naturally infected with endosymbionts.
3. Here, we sampled aphids from an important cereal production region in Lower Saxony, Germany. We characterized the endosymbiont profile of these aphid populations and conducted pyrethroid dose–response assays to test the hypothesis that facultative endosymbionts increase aphid susceptibility to insecticides.
4. We find that the level of insecticide susceptibility is highly variable in S. avenae and we identify populations that are sensitive and tolerant to pyrethroids, including populations collected from the same field. For R. padi, we find evidence for decreased sensitivity to pyrethroids, representing the first report of reduced sensitivity to pyrethroids in R. padi sampled from Central Europe.
5. We detected high endosymbiont infection frequencies in the aphid populations. 84% of aphids carry one facultative endosymbiont and 9% of aphids carry two facultative endosymbionts. We detected associations with Regiella insecticola, Fukatsia symbiotica, and Hamiltonella defensa. However, we do not identify a link between endosymbiont infection and insecticide susceptibility, indicating that other factors may govern the development of insecticide resistance and the need for alternative management strategies.

     

Interactions between green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum (Walker)) and Norway and Sitka spruce under high and low nutrient conditions

1 Green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum) is a serious pest of spruce (Picea spp.) in north‐west Europe, causing defoliation of one‐year‐old and older needles. 2 Relationships between population development of E. abietinum, needle loss and tree growth were compared for five pure genotypes of Sitka spruce and mixed‐genotype material of Sitka and Norway spruce, grown under high and low nutrient conditions. 3 Despite wide differences in flushing date between spruce genotypes, E. abietinum populations peaked on the same date on each genotype and on the mixed‐genotype material, irrespective of nutrient supply. 4 Larger aphid populations developed on trees grown under high nutrient conditions than under low nutrients. However, more needles were lost per aphid in the low nutrient treatment and overall defoliation rates in the two nutrient treatments were similar. 5 Total aphid numbers differed significantly between Sitka spruce genotypes within nutrient treatments, but not in relation to bud‐burst or needle terpene content. Reductions in height growth caused by infestation were greater (15–44%), and related to mean aphid densities and defoliation, in the low nutrient treatment, but were smaller (11–27%) and not related to aphid density and defoliation in the high nutrient treatment. 6 Development of E. abietinum populations was similar on Norway and Sitka spruce, but Norway spruce lost fewer needles. However, the effects of infestation on tree growth were more closely related to aphid density and were similar for Norway and Sitka spruce. 7 Infestation caused a decrease in total root dry weight of Norway and Sitka spruce in proportion to the reductions observed in above‐ground growth.     

The longest 18S ribosomal RNA ever known. Nucleotide sequence and presumed secondary structure of the 18S rRNA of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum.

An EMBL4 recombinant phage which encodes one of the full length of the aphid ribosomal DNA has been isolated from the aphid genomic library. Determination of the complete nucleotide sequence of the aphid 18S rRNA gene revealed that it is 2469 bp with a G + C content of 59%. The aphid 18S rRNA gene studied here is the longest and has the highest G + C content among the 18S rRNA genes examined so far. Evidence provided by the S1 nuclease assay suggests that the aphid 18S rRNA gene examined in this study is not a pseudogene containing an insertion sequence. Based on the nucleotide sequence of the 18S rRNA gene, we constructed a presumed secondary-structure model of the aphid 18S rRNA. In the aphid 18S rRNA, the eucaryote-specific E21 and 41 region are supposed to be longer and more complex than the counterparts of other 18S rRNA.     

The influence of black bean aphid, Aphis fabae Scop., and its honeydew on leaf growth and dry matter production of sugar beet

A. fabae populations, started at the 3–4 leaf-stage of sugar beet in the glasshouse and peaking at 3000 individuals per plant, reduced leaf area by 64% at the 14 leaf-stage. The size of the heavily-infested leaves number 5 to 10 was reduced by 80% or more. The rate of leaf growth regained normal values after the aphid populations collapsed, but the infested plants did not make up for the decrease in leaf area production that had been incurred during the infestation. Total dry matter production over a period of 15 weeks was reduced by 47%. Honeydew had no effect on leaf size or dry matter production. Sugar beet plants in the field became infested with A. fabae at the 2–3, 4–5 and 6–8 leaf stages. Maximum populations of 800, 2100 and 2200 aphids per plant were recorded, respectively. The pertinent reductions in leaf area were 91%, 67% and 34% at the 10–12 leaf-stage and 79%, 65% and 14% at harvest while the total dry matter produced was reduced by 91%, 79% and 16%. Neighbouring plants of the early-infested sugar beet plants gained significantly higher weights than control plants. Honeydew had no effect on leaf area or dry matter production. The consequences of these results for our understanding of Aphis fabae injury in sugar beet and aphid control in the field are discussed.     

Abscisic acid deficiency increases defence responses against Myzus persicae in Arabidopsis

Comparison of Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) gene expression induced by Myzus persicae (green peach aphid) feeding, aphid saliva infiltration and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment showed a significant positive correlation. In particular, ABA‐regulated genes are over‐represented among genes that are induced by M. persicae saliva infiltration into Arabidopsis leaves. This suggests that the induction of ABA‐related gene expression could be an important component of the Arabidopsis–aphid interaction. Consistent with this hypothesis, M. persicae populations induced ABA production in wild‐type plants. Furthermore, aphid populations were smaller on Arabidopsis aba1‐1 mutants, which cannot synthesize ABA, and showed a significant preference for wild‐type plants compared with the mutant. Total free amino acids, which play an important role in aphid nutrition, were not altered in the aba1‐1 mutant line, but the levels of isoleucine (Ile) and tryptophan (Trp) were differentially affected by aphids in wild‐type and mutant plants. Recently, indole glucosinolates have been shown to promote aphid resistance in Arabidopsis. In this study, 4‐methoxyindol‐3‐ylmethylglucosinolate was more abundant in the aba1‐1 mutant than in wild‐type Arabidopsis, suggesting that the induction of ABA signals that decrease the accumulation of defence compounds may be beneficial for aphids.     

Tripartite Interactions of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus,Sitobion avenae and Wheat Varieties

The tripartite interactions in a pathosystem involving wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), the Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), and the BYDV vector aphid Sitobion avenae were studied under field conditions to determine the impact of these interactions on aphid populations, virus pathology and grain yield. Wheat varietal resistance to BYDV and aphids varied among the three wheat varieties studied over two consecutive years. The results demonstrated that (1) aphid peak number (APN) in the aphid + BYDV (viruliferous aphid) treatment was greater and occurred earlier than that in the non-viruliferous aphid treatment. The APN and the area under the curve of population dynamics (AUC) on a S. avenae-resistant variety 98-10-30 was significantly lower than on two aphid-susceptible varieties Tam200(13)G and Xiaoyan6. (2) The production of alatae (PA) was greater on the variety 98-10-30 than on the other varieties, and PA was greater in the aphid + BYDV treatment on 98-10-30 than in the non-viruliferous aphid treatment, but this trend was reversed on Tam200(13)G and Xiaoyan6. (3) The BYDV disease incidence (DIC) on the variety 98-10-30 was greater than that on the other two varieties in 2012, and the disease index (DID) on Tam200(13)G was lower than on the other varieties in the aphid + BYDV and BYDV treatments in 2012, but not in 2011 when aphid vector numbers were generally lower. (4) Yield loss in the aphid + BYDV treatment tended to be greater than that in the aphid or BYDV alone treatments across varieties and years. We suggested that aphid population development and BYDV transmission tend to promote each other under field conditions. The aphids + BYDV treatment caused greater yield reductions than non-viruliferous aphids or virus treatment. Wheat varietal resistance in 98-10-30 affects the aphid dispersal, virus transmission and wheat yield loss though inhibits aphid populations from increasing.