Field assessments of resistance to the aphids Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum in old and modern spring-sown wheats

Three ancient varieties of wheat and two modern spring-sown cultivars were investigated in the field to assess their resistance to the cereal aphids Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum; the monitoring of natural populations and detailed observations using clip-cages were both undertaken. The ancient variety Einkorn showed both antixenotic and antibiotic resistance to S. avenae, and antibiotic resistance to M. dirhodum. The resistance to S. avenae was greater than that to M. dirhodum. The value of Einkorn as a component of a resistance-breeding programme is discussed with reference to its agronomic and genetic characteristics and with reference to the pest status of cereal aphids.     

Effects of feeding position of the aphids Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum on wheat yield and quality

The effects of feeding site of Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum on grain weight, number and nitrogen content were investigated in the laboratory and in the field. When the latter species was confined to particular leaves in a growth room, grain weight reductions occurred only when the aphid fed on the flag leaf; reductions in percentage grain protein, but not grain weight, followed lower leaf feeding. Leaves which had borne aphids had a higher proportion of nitrogen at death than control leaves, but this explained little of the shortfall in grain nitrogen, which was mainly due to direct removal during aphid feeding. Multiple regressions of grain weight on aphid species/feeding site in the field confirmed the lack of grain weight effects when lower leaves were colonised; because grain size was greatly reduced by aphid feeding, percentage grain nitrogen increased with increasing aphid density in one cultivar and in others was unchanged. Successive comparison of control grain weights with those from tillers bearing an increasing range of aphid densities resulted in a significant reduction in weight with tillers bearing 21 to 25 aphid units on their ear and flag leaf combined, one unit comprising one adult or fourth-instar aphid or three of earlier instars. These and other factors affecting the nature and extent of cereal aphid damage are discussed.     

The nature of the effects of the aphids Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum on the growth of wheat

Field-caged, post-anthesis populations of the aphids Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum reduced grain weight of wheat by 14 and 7% respectively and induced changes in the senescence of the flag leaf. Spikelet number and grain number were unaffected as they are normally determined by pre-anthesis factors. Percentage grain protein was significantly reduced by both aphid species. The pattern of grain weight reduction within the ear was consistent with known limitations on the distribution of flag leaf assimilates among the grains. The relative effects of the two aphid species apparently resulted from the degree of nutrient drain imposed at particular feeding sites and the reduction in the leaf area duration of the flag leaf.     

Reproductive strategy of winged and wingless morphs of the aphids Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum

The reproduction of apterous and alate morphs of the aphids Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum is compared on the basis of fecundity in 5- and 10-day periods of adult life. Apterae of both species are consistently more fecund than alatae of comparable weight, producing about three more nymphs on average in any 5-day period. The reproductive differences are related to the number and quality of embryos at eclosion and to ovulation rates, both of which in turn appear to be linked to wing-muscle maintenance. These relationships between weight, embryos and reproduction may be used to predict a newly moulted adult aphid's fecundity, a method which may facilitate the assessment of resistance to aphids in new cereal varieties, by obviating lengthy recording of reproduction. The strategies by which alatae of these and other aphid species minimize the difference between their fecundity and that of apterae are discussed.     

The spatial distribution of canopy-resident and ground-resident cereal aphids (Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum) in winter wheat

We investigated, within two cereal fields in Southern England, the within-canopy spatial distribution of the aphids Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum in relation to crop yield and plant nitrogen. We extended the study to investigate the spatial distribution of aphids that fell to, or returned from, the ground in order to estimate availability of the within-canopy aphid population to ground-active predators. We revealed that crop canopy aphid spatial pattern was associated with nitrogen or yield. Differences were evident between species: S. avenae was generally negatively associated with yield or plant nitrogen, whilst M. dirhodum exhibited positive association. For both aphid species, we observed strong spatial pattern for aphids falling to the ground and conclude that this could, in part, mediate the effectiveness of ground-active predators as pest control agents.     

Entomophthora infecting the cereal aphids Metapolophium dirhodum and Sitobion avenae

Entomophthora aphidis, E. planchoniana, and E. thaxteriana killed many Metapalophium dirhodum and Sitobion avenae in barley during 1970. E. planchoniana first infected M. dirhodum late in June, after rain ended a long dry period, but few aphids were infected until after July 7, when heavy rain killed 65–80% of aphids. E. planchoniana was the most frequent of the 3 species until July 27, when E. aphidis and E. thaxteriana each became more abundant. S. avenae was more often infected by E. thaxteriana than the other species of Entomophthora. During the second half of July, 40–76% of adult M. dirhodum and 34–80% of S. avenae were infected. The 3 fungus species were equally common in M. dirhodum in sheltered fields, but E. thaxteriana was less common in an exposed field. In a sheltered field, E. thaxteriana was less frequent than the other species along the perimeter, and E. planchoniana was most common and E. aphidis the least common about 37 m into the crop.     

The effect of barley yellow dwarf virus on field populations of the cereal aphids, Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum

The numbers of cereal aphids, especially Metopolophium dirhodum in 1979, and Sitobion avenae in 1980, were significantly increased on BYDV infected wheat and oats in 1979, and wheat, barley and oats in 1980. The differences were probably caused by attraction of alates of each species to virus infected plants which had changed colour as a result of their infection. Significantly more alates of M. dirhodum were found on virus infected oats in 1979, and of S. avenae on oats and barley in 1980, although not on wheat in either year. probably because the colour contrast in wheat was less intense than in the other crops. Flight chamber experiments with alates of both species confirmed their visual attraction to virus-infected leaves. The interaction between virus, vector and host plants is discussed with reference to the ecology of virus spread.     

The effect of barley yellow dwarf virus on honeydew production by the cereal aphids, Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum

Individual S. avenae and M. dirhodum excreted significantly fewer droplets of honeydew on plants infected with BYDV than on healthy plants. S. avenae excreted less honeydew on the ears than on the leaves of wheat. M. dirhodum excreted less than S. avenae on the leaves. The size of honeydew droplets increased with the age of aphids but was not affected by BYDV infection. Possible reasons for the observed effects of BYDV on honeydew excretion are discussed.     

A comparison of the level of resistance in diploid Triticum monococcum and hexaploid Triticum aestivum wheat seedlings to the aphids Metopolophium dirhodum and Rhopalosiphum padi

Resistance to the aphids Metopolophium dirhodum and Rhopalosiphum padi was assessed by measuring adult weight, development time and fecundity on seedlings of three ‘ancient’ diploid wheat lines (Triticum monococcum) and four ‘modern’ hexaploid wheat cultivars (T. aestivum). Adult weight and fecundity were consistently greater on the hexaploid cvs but development time and the intrinsic rate of increase were less affected. Unvernalised seedlings formed the basis of a screening method, the results of which showed the same pattern as already published studies using older plants.     

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.     

Insecticide resistance status and detoxification enzymes of wheat aphids Sitobion avenae and Rhopalosiphum padi

正Dear Editor,Wheat aphids are serious pests in wheat growing areas of China,and can lead to from 10%to over 30%reduction in wheat production(Wang et al.,2006).The main wheat aphids are Sitobion avenae(Fabricius),Rhopalosiphum padi(Linnaeus),Metopolophium dirhodum(Walker),and Schizaphis graminum(Rondani).In the Huang-Huai area of China,the dominant wheat aphid species are S.avenae and R.padi.For many years,farmers have applied chemical pesticides to control wheat aphids.The number of wheat aphids in north     

A field evaluation of different criteria for determiningthe need to treat winter wheat against the grain aphid Sitobion avenae and the rose-grain aphid Metopolophium dirhodum

The economics of control of grain aphid (Sitobion avenae) and rose-grain aphid (Metopolophium dirhodum) were investigated in a series of experiments carried out across England in 1988 and 1989. Sprays of pirimicarb or dimethoate were applied at three growth stages and yield effects measured. Aphid infestations were determined by a range of different methods, to evaluate the value of each for decision making. Aphids overwintered in crops in mild conditions in both seasons, resulting in early population build-up and decline in many cases. Aphicide sprays applied during the booting stage increased average yields by 0.26 t/ha. Profitability of the treatment strategies considered was not greatly enhanced by selective spray application related to aphid assessment at this stage. Delaying decision making to the flowering or grain-filling stages resulted in reduced profitability. A poor correlation between aphid numbers and crop yield response to sprays was found. This was shown to be due to differences in subsequent aphid population development and in aphicide efficacy. Grain quality was affected only by high aphid infestations which caused large yield reductions.     

Tolerance of antibiotic and susceptible cereal seedlings to the aphids Metopolophium dirhodum and Rhopalosiphum padi

Some cereal seedlings exhibit antibiotic and antixenotic resistance to the aphids Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) and Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), because the seedlings contain hydroxamic acids or gramine. The association between tolerance to aphids and aphid antibiosis was investigated for three cereals, Dollarbird wheat Vulcan wheat and Yagan barley. The dry biomass gained by the aphids and the simultaneous reduction in the biomass of the plants (biomass conversion ratio) quantified tolerance. Biomass production and the density dependence of biomass production by the aphids quantified antibiosis more effectively than fecundity. Vulcan wheat, which has more hydroxamic acid than Dollarbird wheat showed the highest level of antibiosis, and the barley was not antibiotic for either aphid. The biomass conversion ratio was a constant; the biomass of an infested plant was reduced by 3 mg for each mg of aphid biomass gained, regardless of aphid species, plant cultivar, or aphid density. The three plants showed no differential tolerance to the aphids, and therefore tolerance is not associated with antibiosis in this case.     

Honeydew production and sap ingestion by the cereal aphids Rhopalosiphum padi and Metopolophium dirhodum on seedlings of resistant and susceptible wheat species

Measurements of the frequency and rate of honeydew excretion by Rhopalosiphum padi and Metopolophium dirhodum, feeding on seedlings of resistant and susceptible wheat (Triticum monococcum and T. aestivum) were used to estimate the quantity of sap ingested over 24 h. Ingestion was significantly reduced on the more resistant T. monococcum and for M. dirhodum this may be due in part to a reduction in the success of phloem location.     

小麦不同抗蚜品种（系）中吲哚生物碱的含量变化

1　引　　言生物碱是一类重要的植物次生化合物 ,在植物防御有害生物的入侵过程中发挥着重要作用 .许多生物碱已被证明对蚜虫和其他一些害虫具有较强的毒杀活性 ,成为很有前途的植物杀虫驱虫剂活性成份[5,7,8] .禾本科植物中存在芦竹碱和相关的吲哚生物碱 ,对麦二叉蚜 (Schizaphisgraminum)和禾谷缢管蚜 (Rhopalosiphum padi)有毒杀作用[2 ,9,10 ] ,这种生物碱在大麦苗叶片中 ,随叶龄增加而降低[10 ] .小麦不同抗蚜品种 (系 )上麦长管蚜 (Sitobionavenae)蚜量比值与旗叶吲哚生物碱含量呈一定的负相关 ,而穗部吲哚生物碱含量呈较显著的负相…     

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.

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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.

     

Contribution of indole alkaloids to Sitobion avenae (F.) resistance in wheat

Abstract:  Indole alkaloid contents of five winter wheat varieties at different growth stages, and the relationship between indole alkaloids and carboxylesterase activities of Sitobion avenae (F.) from wheat ears of different varieties were studied. The results indicated that KOK1679 and My295, highly and moderately aphid-resistant varieties, had a high indole alkaloid content during vegetative growth. During their reproduction growth, resistant varieties had a high alkaloid content in penultimate leaves, and indole alkaloid contents of KOK1679 were significantly higher than that of other varieties in wheat ears. The indole alkaloid contents of all varieties were low in flag leaves except for Han4564 . A significant correlation was shown between carboxylesterase activity in aphids collected from wheat ears and indole alkaloid contents in ears of the wheat varieties ( r  = 0.9646).     

Effects of hydroxamic acids on the resistance of wheat to the aphid Sitobion avenae

Resistance to the aphid Sitobion avenae F. was assessed on six wheat cultivars of known concentrations of total hydroxamic acids. A range of values for intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) were obtained, 96% of the variation in which was explained by acid concentrations. Of the components of r_m, age-specific fecundity was the most significant factor contributing to resistance.     

Electronic recording of plant penetration by the cereal aphids Rhopalosiphum padi and Metopolophium dirhodum on resistant and susceptible wheat seedlings

Plant penetration by the aphids Rhopalosiphum padi and Metopolophium dirhodum was monitored using an electronic recording method. Recordings over 3 h showed that phloem ingestion was reduced on resistant wheat, when compared with a more susceptible species, but this trend was reversed when results from longer (12 h) experiments were used. Plant penetration by M. dirhodum was reduced by attachment to the electronic system, but the behaviour of R. padi was relatively unaffected. The results are discussed in relation to prospects for using electronic methods as a screening procedure.     

Observations on the morphs of Macrosiphum avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum on cereals during the summer and autumn

From June to early August 1970, populations of Macrosiphum avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum on marked tillers of field barley were compared with the numbers of alatae trapped at crop height and at 12.2 m. There were always more M. dirhodum than M. avenae on the tillers. Only apterae were produced until mid-June when both alatae and apterae occurred; after mid-July only alate M. avenae were found. Until mid-June most of the flying alatae were caught at 12.2 m as they migrated from spring hosts to cereals. Thereafter, more alate M. avenae were trapped at 12.2 m than at crop level, whereas numbers of alate M. dirhodum were usually comparable at both heights. Although crop and flying populations occasionally showed temporal similarities, insufficient is known about their field distribution and the factors affecting their alate production and flight activity to interpret this relationship. In the autumn, two consecutive reproductive phases of M. dirhodum occurred on winter wheat grown in pots outdoors. Initially, apterous virginoparae and alatae, probably sexuparae, were produced, whereas only alate males appeared during the second phase. In contrast, M. avenae deposited mainly apterous virginoparae although some oviparae developed in October to lay scattered, probably infertile eggs on the tillers.