Reproduction of the aphid Myzus persicae related to the mineral nutrition of potato plants

The fecundity and reproduction rate of caged Myzus persicae on leaves of potato plants growing on nutrient solutions with different anion and cation ratios were measured. The levels of total and soluble N in the leaves and the reproduction rate were found to be positively correlated with the amounts of N in the nutrient solutions. Longevity and reproduction rate were considerably less on 4-week-old plants than on 8-week-old plants; this difference is not correlated with the total N or soluble N-content of the leaves. When comparing aphid development on plants, daily variations in the amounts of N compounds in the leaves could provoke an erroneous basis for assessing the physiological condition of the host plant.

---

Résumé Des pucerons Myzus persicae sont élevés individuellement dans des cages sur des feuilles de pommes de terre. Chaque expérience comporte deux groupes de plantes les unes âgées d'un mois, les autres de deux mois. Les plantes sont alimentées avec des solutions nutritives dans lesquelles le rapport d'anions ou cations est différent, mais qui demeurent ioniquement équilibrées.La reproduction de Myzus persicae, sur les plantes du même âge, montre une corrélation avec la quantité de N dans la solution nutritive et avec la teneur des feuilles en N total ou en N soluble.Le taux reproduction sur des plantes âgées de deux mois est en moyenne plus élevé que sur les plantes âgées d'un mois. Cette différence n'est pas en corrélation avec la teneur des feuilles en N total ou N soluble.Sur des plantes âgées de deux mois le nombre de jours productifs par femelle est plus élevé que sur des plantes âgées d'un mois.La teneur des feuilles en composés azotés peut montrer des fluctuations quotidiennes importantes; pendant la durée de l'expérience un échantillonnage fréquent est indispensable à l'obtention de données reproductibles.Le rapport de K/Mg dans les solutions nutritives n'a pas une influence significative sur la fécondité des pucerons.La teneur en eau des feuilles n'est pas influencée par les différentes solutions nutritives ni par l'âge de la plante.Si on permet aux pucerons de se développer librement sur les plantes, on constate que la densité de population est la même sur les différentes solutions nutritives. La nutrition minérale n'influence pas de façon significative les pourcentages de production d'insectes ailés.

     

Transgenic potato plants with enhanced resistance to the peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae

Potato plants (Solanum tuberosum) cv. Desireé were transformed with the genes encoding the proteins bean chitinase (BCH), snowdrop lectin (GNA) and wheat -amylase inhibitor (WAI) under the control of the constitutive CaMV 35S promoter. Transgenic plants with detectable levels of foreign RNA were then selected for further characterisation with respect to protein expression levels by immunodot blot analysis using polyclonal antibodies raised against the respective protein. With the exception of WAI, plants expressing high levels of RNA, expressed correspondingly high levels of the foreign protein (1.5–2.0% of the total soluble protein). Although high levels of WAI mRNA were detected in some of the transformants, the protein could not be detected. On the bases of expression levels, two lines, designated PWG6#85 (transformed with the double construct WAI/GNA) and PBG6#47 (transformed with the double construct BCH/GNA), were selected for testing in aphid trials for enhanced levels of resistance.Both transgenic lines had a marked and significant effect on fecundity. The number of nymphs produced per female per day peaked at 4.1 and 4.2 for lines PBG6#47 and PWG6#85 respectively, compared to a value of 5.4 on control plants. Total nymphal production was also significantly lower on either of the transgenic lines compared to control plants (P<0.001) with the differences between the lines being only just significant (P=0.058). On line PBG6#47 there was a delay in nymphal production of 1.6 days, representing a delay of 15%, and on line PWG6#85 this was 3.2 days, representing a delay of ca. 30%. The intrinsic rates of increase (r _m ) were also significantly lower on both of the transgenic lines in comparison to that on control plants (P<0.001), however the differences between the lines were not significant. The potential of using such genes as part of an over all strategy for the control of aphid populations is discussed.     

The response of an aphid tending ant to artificial extra-floral nectaries on different host plants

Sap-feeding homopterans, which reduce the fitness of their host plants, are often tended by ants that feed on their honeydew. The composition of the honeydew varies with both the aphid and the host plant. Extra-floral nectaries (EFNs) are believed to have evolved to attract attending ants, protecting the hosts, but it is unknown if EFNs on different plants have the same impact on the relations between an aphid species feeding on those plants and its tending ant. Experimental research was conducted to examine the attraction of Tapinoma erraticum scout ants to honeydew from the aphid Aphis gossypii feeding on two different plants, Prunus amygdalus and Mentha piperita, negligence of tending the aphids, and survival of the aphids in the presence of artificial EFNs. The scout ants were significantly more attracted to artificial nectar dispensed on P. amygdalus leaves than on M. piperita, or aphids on both plants and water. They neglected aphids in the presence of artificial EFNs on M. piperita but not on P. amygdalus. The aphid population on M. piperita did not statistically change in the presence of artificial EFNs during the 8 days of the third experiment. On P. amygdalus, the aphids succeeded in developing fully to winged form. In conclusion, the responses of the ants tending aphids to the presence of artificial EFNs were influenced by the host plant.     

The induction of top-roll symptoms on potato plants by the aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae

In the field, caged potato plants of King Edward and Majestic cultivars infested with the potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae developed top-roll symptoms, the proportion of affected plants increasing with the size and persistence of the aphid population. Yield of tubers from plots in which 90% of the plants had top-roll symptoms was 40% less than that from control plots; yield of saleable ware was even less. Foliage produced after the aphids had been killed was symptomless even when it arose from the axil of an affected leaf. Caged field plants treated with phorate granules to prevent aphid attack did not develop top-roll. Prolonged infestation of Pentland Crown, Majestic and King Edward plants by M. euphorbiae in a glasshouse induced rolling of upper leaves similar to top-roll of field plants. Experimental results suggest that rolling was directly attributable to heavy attack by M. euphorbiae, not to an aphid-transmitted pathogen.     

Generation of transgenic potato plants highly resistant to potato virus Y (PVY) through RNA silencing

In this study we applied RNA silencing to engineer potato plants that are resistant to potato virus Y (PVY). We expressed double-stranded (ds) RNA derived from the 3 terminal part of the coat protein gene of PVY, which is highly conserved in sequence amongst different PVY isolates, in transgenic potatoes of the commercial variety Spunta. Transgenic plants were analyzed for generation of transgene-derived short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) prior to virus inoculation. Twelve of fifteen transgenic lines produced siRNAs and were highly resistant to three strains of PVY, each belonging to three different subtypes of the virus (PVY^N, PVY^O and PVY^NTN). Infection of transgenic plants with Potato virus X (PVX) simultaneously or prior to the challenge with PVY did not interfere with PVY-resistance.Anastasia Missiou: M.A. and K.K. have contributed equally to this workKriton Kalantidis: M.A. and K.K. have contributed equally to this work     

Climatic factors restricting the distribution of the aphid Rhopalosiphoninus latysiphon to the subterranean parts of field potato plants

Rhopalosiphoninus latysiphon (Davidson) infests the roots of field potato plants, but it is normally absent from the foliage. In cool conditions it is possible to rear this aphid on the foliage of potato plants. From experiments, it is suggested that R. latysiphon does not normally infest the foliage because it does not tolerate the high air temperatures and the radiant heat to which it would be exposed; a damp environment is also preferred. These are probably the main causal factors in the aphid's selection of a subterranean environment.     

Survival, growth, and reproduction of two aphid species on sucrose solutions containing host or non-host honeydews

Aphids, like most phloem-feeding insects, commonly exhibit a high degree of host specificity. Plant-specific chemical compounds are likely to serve as important host selection cues for monophagous aphids and such substances could be present in aphid honeydew. Apterous virginoparae ofMyzus persicae (Sulzer) andPhorodon humuli (Schrank) were reared on a buffered sucrose solution containing various aphid honeydews or a mixture of amino acids. In two separate experiments, the host-specificP. humuli (hop aphid) could grow and reproduce only on diets containing honeydew collected from hop (Humulus lupulus L.).M. persicae (the green peach aphid, GPA) did not perform well on diets containing hop honeydew, perhaps because hop is a poor GPA host. Honeydew collected from preferred GPA host plants rape,Brassica napus L., and jimsonweed,Datura stramonium L., allowed GPA growth and reproduction. Hop aphids, however, performed poorly on rape and jimsonweed honeydew diets. Bell pepper,Capsicum annuum L., honeydew supported neither the hop aphid nor GPA. The study of aphid honeydew components may contribute towards a more complete understanding of host preference and selection phenomena in aphids.     

Behavior of bird cherry-oat aphid and green peach aphid in relation to potato virus Y transmission

Potato virus Y is transmitted to potato in a nonpersistent manner by many aphid species, some of which do not colonize this crop. The behavior of bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) on potato, Solanum tuberosum L., a plant species that is not colonized by this aphid, was described and compared with that of the potato-colonizing green peach aphid, Myzuspersicae (Sulzer). A higher proportion of winged morph of R. padi than M. persicae left the plant, but aphids that stayed in contact with the plant took the same mean time to initiate the first probe and it lasted the same mean time compared with M. persicae. Electronic penetration graph technique was used to study the probing behavior of the aphids during Potato virus Y (family Potyviridae, genus Potyvirus, PVY) transmission tests. Transmission rate decreased from 29 to 8% when the acquisition time increased from 5 min of continuous probing to 1 h with M. persicae, but it remained low (2 and 1%) with R. padi. Most of the difference in transmission rate between acquisition time with M. persicae and between aphid species was related to the change in the time and behavior taking place between the last cell puncture of the acquisition phase to the first cell puncture of the inoculation phase. Results presented here clearly demonstrated the importance of host plant selection and probing behavior in the transmission of nonpersistent plant viruses. They also stress the need to consider the behavior of the aphid in the design of laboratory tests of virus vector efficacy.     

Species-Independent Attraction to Biofilms through Electrical Signaling

1. Download high-res image (222KB)
2. Download full-size image

     

Underground signals carried through common mycelial networks warn neighbouring plants of aphid attack

The roots of most land plants are colonised by mycorrhizal fungi that provide mineral nutrients in exchange for carbon. Here, we show that mycorrhizal mycelia can also act as a conduit for signalling between plants, acting as an early warning system for herbivore attack. Insect herbivory causes systemic changes in the production of plant volatiles, particularly methyl salicylate, making bean plants, Vicia faba, repellent to aphids but attractive to aphid enemies such as parasitoids. We demonstrate that these effects can also occur in aphid‐free plants but only when they are connected to aphid‐infested plants via a common mycorrhizal mycelial network. This underground messaging system allows neighbouring plants to invoke herbivore defences before attack. Our findings demonstrate that common mycorrhizal mycelial networks can determine the outcome of multitrophic interactions by communicating information on herbivore attack between plants, thereby influencing the behaviour of both herbivores and their natural enemies.     

Attraction of pepper weevil to volatiles from damaged pepper plants

Pioneer herbivorous insects may find their host plants through a combination of visual and constitutive host‐plant volatile cues, but once a site has been colonized, feeding damage changes the quantity and quality of plant volatiles released, potentially altering the behavior of conspecifics who detect them. Previous work on the pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii Cano (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), demonstrated that this insect can detect and orient to constitutive host plant volatiles released from pepper [Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae)]. Here we investigated the response of the weevil to whole plants and headspace collections of plants damaged by conspecifics. Mated weevils preferred damaged flowering as well as damaged fruiting plants over undamaged plants in a Y‐tube olfactometer. They also preferred volatiles from flowering and fruiting plants with actively feeding weevils over plants with old feeding damage. Both sexes preferred volatiles from fruiting plants with actively feeding weevils over flowering plants with actively feeding weevils. Females preferred plants with 48 h of prior feeding damage over plants subjected to weevil feeding for only 1 h, whereas males showed no preference. When attraction to male‐ and female‐inflicted feeding damage was compared in the Y‐tube, males and females showed no significant preference. Wind tunnel plant assays and four‐choice olfactometer assays using headspace volatiles confirmed the attraction of weevils to active feeding damage on fruiting plants. In a final four‐choice olfactometer assay using headspace collections, we tested the attraction of mated males and virgin and mated females to male and female feeding damage. In these headspace volatile assays, mated females again showed no preference for male feeding; however, virgin females and males preferred the headspace volatiles of plants fed on by males, which contained the male aggregation pheromone in addition to plant volatiles. The potential for using plant volatile lures to improve pepper weevil monitoring and management is discussed.     

Antibiotic resistance in potato cultivars to the aphid Myzus persicae

Commercially-grown potato cultivars were assessed for antibiotic resistance to Myzus persicae in a culture room at 19°C with a 2°C range and a 16 h photoperiod. The resistant rankings obtained were consistent for the following aphid metrics: maturation time, teneral adult weight, embryo complement and the production of nymphs. Intrinsic rates of increase (r_m) correlated with the above parameters of aphid growth and reproduction but this was not always the case for nymphal survival rate. The cultivars Ulster Tarn, Record and Maris Piper were relatively resistant to M. persicae and cultivars Desirée and King Edward were the most susceptible. When the aphid clone or the culture plants were changed there was no significant effect on the relative resistance of the potato cultivars under test. The relationship between the number of embryos in teneral adults and the production of nymphs by aphids was examined by grouping aphids in weight batches. There was a strong relationship between these two variables.     

论昆虫与植物的相互作用和进化的关系

昆虫与植物是陆地生物群落中最为重要的组成部分,二者间的相互作用是多方面的,其中最为重要的是昆虫选择植物作为食物和生长场所、昆虫为植物传授花粉两方面。该文集中讨论这两方面的相互作用有哪些因素与进化有密切的关系。植食性昆虫根据其寄主植物范围,通常分为专食性（寄主范围窄）和广食性（寄主范围广）。从生态关系来看,广食性的取食行为比专食性的更为有利,但实际情况却与此相反,统观植食性昆虫的取食行为,有向专食性演化更为普遍的倾向。专食性发展有利于提高昆虫对寄主植物的选择效率,还可缓和天敌作用所造成的压力。根据昆虫与植物相互作用的特点,目前已提出很多昆虫与植物的进化理论,包括成对的协同进化、弥散的协同进化、群落的协同进化以及顺序进化。在昆虫对寄主植物的选择中,以植物对昆虫的影响较昆虫对植物的影响更为重要,称为顺序进化是适宜的;昆虫为被子植物传授花粉造成互惠共生,其中的进化关系应称为协同进化。     

Transgenic-Bt potato plant resistance to the colorado potato beetle affect the aphid parasitoid Aphidius nigripes

Using the biotechnological plant resistance for herbivore control with less reliance on chemicals in integrated pest management (IPM) programs critically depends on predictable interactions with no-target organisms of various trophic levels. Plant resistance to insect pests based on recombinant Bacillus thuringiensis could interfere with natural enemies of non target pests. Performance of the potato aphid parasitoid Aphidius nigripes was studied on the 'Superior-BT line transgenic for the CryllIA toxin of B. thuringiensis, resistance to the Colorado potato beetle; and none transformed 'Superior' line which served as control. Parasitoid survival was significantly lower on the 'Superior-BT' line compared to control. Adult females were largest on 'Superior' and smallest on BT potatoes. This difference was reflected on parasitoid fecundity, which was lowest on 'Superior-BT', and highest on Superior. The results indicate that factor of potato resistance to the Colorado potato beetle affected the fitness of a parasitold of the aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae, a secondary pest of potato. The effects on the parasitoid were complex but were generally interpretable in terms of host aphid quality variation among potato lines used as food by the aphids during parasitoid development.     

Cross adaptation of potato plants to low temperatures and potato cyst nematode infestation

Effect of short-term (2 h a day) and long-term (6 days) exposure to low temperature (5°C) on cold tolerance was investigated in two cultivars of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.): resistant (Sudarynya) and susceptible (Nevskii) to potato cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis Woll.). The extent of their infestation and changes in the expression of the genes of resistance to nematode (H1 and Gro1-4) were also analyzed. In both cultivars, exposure to low temperature enhanced cold resistance of potato plants. Enhancing cold resistance of cv. Sudarynya induced by a short-term exposure to chilling did not affect the extent of nematode infestation, whereas in susceptible cv. Nevskii, the extent of infestation decreased by almost three times. The level of expression of H1 gene in the leaves of the susceptible cultivar rose almost twofold both after short-term and long exposure to chilling, while in the resistant cultivar, gene expression increased only after a short-term effect of cold. The level of Gro1-4 gene expression increased after both temperature treatments only in the resistant cv. Sudarynya. Thus, the expression of genes for potato resistance to nematode infestation became more active in the susceptible cultivar as regards the gene H1 and in the resistant cultivar, regarding the gene Gro1-4. In the nematode-susceptible cv. Nevskii, the level of infestation decreased and cold resistance increased, apparently indicating cross adaptation to two factors of different nature.     

The movement of tobacco mosaic viruses and potato virus X through tomato plants

Tomato aucuba mosaic virus, tobacco mosaic virus and potato virus X took 3'5-4, 5 and 3 days respectively to move from inoculated tomato leaflets into the petioles and stems
On reaching the stem each virus usually first moved downward, but in some plants both upward and downward movement occurred simultaneously and in a few
upward movement occurred first.
All three viruses travelled through the stem at approximately the same rate. Each was capable of travelling more than 80 cm. during the first 12 hr. after entering the stem, giving a minimal average rate of about 8 cm. per hr.
Uninfected pieces of stem invariably occurred between infected pieces. Maximum lengths of stem through which virus particles had apparently passed without causing infection, were 44.5, 49 and 39 cm. for the three viruses.     

Function of phytochrome A in potato plants as revealed through the study of transgenic plants.

We have generated transgenic potato plants (Solanum tuberosum) containing the potato phytochrome protein encoded by the PHYA gene cDNA (phyA) in sense or antisense orientation under the control of the 35S cauliflower mosaic virus promoter. Plants with increased and decreased phyA levels were analyzed. When grown under white light, development and growth of sprouts and plants were barely distinguishable from wild type. Under continuous far-red light, stem extension, leaf expansion, and hook opening of sprouts were accelerated in phyA overexpressors and delayed in antisense plants. Sprouts with reduced phyA levels were less sensitive to red light with regard to stem extension and expression of the small subunit genes for ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase. Under low red light:far-red light ratios, increased phyA levels reduced the stem extension component of the shade-avoidance response, whereas decreased levels led to an increase in the response.