A reappraisal of sterol biosynthesis and metabolism in aphids

Aphids of Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (biotype C) reared on its host-plant, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, sequestered campesterol, stigmasterol and sitosterol. Aphids reared for 72 hr on holidic diets supplemented with [4-¹⁴C]-sitosterol contained both [¹⁴C]-sitosterol and [¹⁴C]-cholesterol, indicating that these aphids are capable of dealkylation at C-24. When aphids were reared on artificial diets containing [2-¹⁴C]-mevalonic acid, no detectable amounts of radioactively labelled desmethyl sterols, nor metabolic intermediates in sterol synthesis (i.e. squalene, 2,3-oxidosqualene, 4,4-dimethyl and 4-monomethyl sterols) were found to accumulate in their tissues. The relevance of these findings to previous research suggesting the ability of aphids, via their symbiotes, to synthesize sterols is discussed.     

Demography of greenbug,Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on six barley cultivars

The greenbugs, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) were collected from the barley fields in Isfahan region of Iran. The aphid colonies were maintained on each of six barley cultivars including Karoon, Kavir, Zarjoo, Nosrat, Afzal and Rihane. All the experiments were done on the mentioned barley varieties at 26 ± 1°C, 60 ± 5% relative humidity (RH) and at a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. The shortest and longest developmental times were obtained on Nosrat 6.35 ± 0.11 and Rihane 6.75 ± 0.07 days, respectively. The survivorship of immature stages varied from 71.95% on Nosrat to 82.14% on Zarjoo. The total number of offsprings were 71.05 and 63.22 nymphs per female on Kavir and Karoon. The highest and lowest r _m values were observed on Kavir (0.336 ± 0.005) and Rihane (0.299 ± 0.008), respectively. The statistical analysis of jackknife did not show a significant influence of the tested barley varieties for the mean generation time and a similar procedure of difference for λ and r _m was estimated.     

Effect of bioregulator-treated sorghum on greenbug fecundity and feeding behavior: implications for host-plant resistance

Three commercial and six experimental plant growth bioregulators were surveyed for their effect on aphid reproduction when applied to sorghum. Only CCC and PIX had a significant effect on the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum. Application of the commercial bioregulators CCC and PIX^R caused about a 50% decrease in aphid reproduction rate when applied to greenbug susceptible sorghum but had little effect when applied to a greenbug resistant sorghum line. Electronic monitoring of aphid probing behavior on CCC treated, greenbug-susceptible sorghum showed a response pattern which was indistinguishable from that normally observed on greenbug resistant lines and was different from that associated with aphid probing behavior on untreated susceptible lines. The isolated pectin content of the CCC treated susceptible sorghum was twice that of the controls and had twice the methoxy content. These results support the argument that pectin is a barrier to aphid-stylet penetration for phloem feeding aphids which probe intercellularly and that manipulation of pectin content and/or structure can be a major factor in host-plant resistance to sap-sucking insects.     

Role of an indole alkaloid in the resistance of barley seedlings to aphids

The content of the simple indole alkaloid gramine in barley leaves decreased with age. Conversely, susceptibility to aphids increased in older plants. Population growth rate of the greenbug Schizaphis graminum correlated with gramine content of leaves of several barley cultivars. Gramine decreased rate of feeding, survival and reproductive index of aphids feeding on artificial diets at concentrations similar to those found in plant leaves. Thus, it is suggested that gramine plays a role in the resistance of barley seedlings to S. graminum. Benzyl alcohol, a previously reported insect resistance factor from barley, was absent from all barley cultivars analysed.     

A method for hatching the eggs of the aphid Schizaphis graminum

Techniques are described for the collection of fertile eggs of Schizaphis graminum (Rond.) on filter paper, and for the subsequent sterilization and incubation of the eggs under various temperature and photoperiodic conditions.19% of the eggs incubated continuously at 16°C in complete darkness hatched in 81 days after deposition. 45% of the eggs chilled at 6°C for 40 days (starting 10 days after deposition) hatched in 71 days if the postchilling incubation at 16°C was completed in darkness. The results indicate a further enhancement in the percentage egg hatch and a reduction in developmental time when the eggs were subjected to a light-dark regime during the post-chilling incubation.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird eine einfache und effektive Methode beschrieben, die Eier von Schizaphis graminum auf Filterpapier zu sammeln, sie nachfolgend zu sterilisieren und unter verschiedenen Temperatur- und Photoperiodebedingungen bis zum Schlüpfen zu inkubieren.Hierbei wurden folgende Resulate erzielt: (a) Inkubation der Eier in vollkommener Dunkelheit bei 16°C führte zu einem Schlupferfolg von 19% nach einer Entwicklungszeit von im Mittel 81 Tagen; (b) Kühlung der Eier bei 6°C während 40 Tagen (vom 10. Tag nach der Eiablage an) erhöhte die Schlupfrate unter ansonsten gleichen Bedingungen auf 45% und reduzierte die Entwicklungszeit auf 71 Tage; (c) durch einen Licht/Dunkel-Rhythmus, dem die Eier nach der 40-tägigen Kühlung ausgesetzt wurden, konnte eine weitere Steigerung der Schlupfrate und eine Verkürzung der Entwicklungszeit erreicht werden.

     

Effect of gramine on the feeding behavior of the aphids Schizaphis graminum and Rhopalosiphum padi

The effects of the indole alkaloid gramine on the behavior of the aphids Schizaphis graminum and Rhopalosiphum padi feeding on barley seedlings and on artificial diets were studied. On barley cv. F. Union, which lacks gramine, S. graminum ingested from phloem tissue for 30–80 min and non-phloem for 20–40 min, over a period of 3 h. In cultivar Datil S, gramine was found only in the epidermis and parenchyma mesophyll cells. On this cultivar, the non-phloem wave form of S. graminum was not observed. On F. Union, R. padi ingested non-phloem with short periods of ingestion from phloem. On cv. Datil S, this aphid did not show the non-phloem wave form. In experiments performed with cv. F. Union seedlings that contained exogenous gramine S. graminum did not ingest from phloem. Exogenous gramine was found only in the vascular bundles. It is suggested that gramine content and location may affect the feeding behavior of aphids in barley.

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Résumé Les effects de la gramine sur le comportement alimentaire des pucerons Schizaphis graminum et Rhopalosiphum padi on été étudiés en plantules d'orge (Hordeum distichum) et aussi avec des diètes artificielles à l'aide d'un moniteur électronique. S.graminum se nourri pendant 30–80 minutes à partir du phloème et il a pris 20–40 minutes en se nourrisant d'autres tissues divers, d'un total de 3 heures d'exposition à la plante. Dans la culture Datil S la gramine a été trouvée seulement dans les cellules de l'epidermis et du parenchyme du mesophyle. Dans ce cas, l'onde non-phloematique de S. graminum, n'a été pas observé; le temps pour le première onde X a été plus prolongé par rapport à la culture F. Union. Dans la culture F. Union, R. padi se nourri principalement de tissue non-phloematique (35–100 minutes) et du phloème par des brèves périodes (15–25 minutes). Dans le cas de la culture Datil S ce puceron n'a pas montré l'onde X. D'autre part, quand les plantules de F. Union ont été poussées dans des solution avec gramine, S. graminum ne se nourri pas du phloeme, tandis que R. padi montre un comportement similaire a celui-ce observé avec plantules sans gramine. La gramine absorbé par les plantules a été retrouvée seulement dans les faisceaux vasculaires. D'autre part, la gramine dans des diètes artificielles agit comme repulsif alimentaire à partir de concentrations de 0,5 mM. Avec des diètes contenant 3 mM de gramine l'alimentation des pucerons a été inhibée. Pourtant, ces resultats sugèrent que le contenuet et la localisation de la gramine peuvent modifier le comportement alimentaire des pucerons en plantules d'orge.

     

Response of an aphid parasitoid, Aphelinus asychis to its host, plant, host-plant complex, and to malathion

Aphelinus asychis (Walker) can be valuable as a biocontrol agent of the aphid, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), a major pest on grain crops in the United States. This study reports the wind tunnel, and olfactometric responses of this parasitoid to the host (aphid), plant (sorghum), and host-plant complex (aphid-infested sorghum). In addition, the parasitoids' response to malathion-treated plants is also presented. The goal of the present study was to test the hypothesis that volatiles associated with the host attract natural enemies, as reported in cases of many hymenopterous parasitoids, and also to learn about the effects of insecticides on these parasitoids. In wind tunnel studies, these parasitoids moved upwind in the direction of the host-infested plant. There was no direct flight observed, however, these parasitoids were observed to hop and jump, and sometimes walk to their host. In the olfactometer experiments, we found that A. asychis is attracted to host-plant complex. The parasitoids' response to malathion in the olfactometer suggested that a malathion formulation when applied to plants can lure these beneficials, thus providing new insight into the ongoing task of integrating chemical and biological control of insect pests.     

An aphid circadian rhythm: Factors affecting the release of sex pheromone by oviparae of the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum

Adult oviparae of Schizaphis graminum emit a sex pheromone from scent plaques on the metathoracic tibiae, as do oviparae of other aphid species. By allowing males to walk along a wire walkway, a turning response and an increased rate of antennation were observed when the aphids were within 1–2 cm of a pheromone source. Adult males responded but 4th instar larval males did not.The onset of the release of the pheromone by the oviparae is triggered by the initiation of the light phase in a LD-cycle, and is governed by a circadian rhythm with a free-running period of 25.6 hr under continuous illumination of 15 lx. Daily pheromone release peaks 4–7 hr after lights-on and reaches a maximum on days 6–8 of adulthood.     

Effects of photoperiod and mating on sex pheromone production and release by oviparae of the aphid Schizaphis graminum

ABSTRACT. By extraction and bioassay procedures, it is shown that the sex pheromone released by oviparae of the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), during the daylight hours of a light: dark regime, is present in the tibia of the metathoracic legs only during daily photophases.
Shortly after mating, pheromone-emitting oviparae cease to produce as well as to release the pheromone. This mating-induced response requires that copulation be completed, and suggests the involvement of sperm or seminal substances transferred by the males to the oviparae during copulation.
Although multiple matings increase the number of eggs deposited by an ovipara, the mating-induced termination of pheromone production/ release would enhance the chances for mating of neighbouring oviparae. This would result in a further increase in egg production as well as in the number of genetically similar offspring, because neighbouring oviparae are most probably sisters. The phenomenon is discussed in terms of kin selection.     

Abscisic acid and jasmonic acid affect proteinase inhibitor activities in barley leaves

Proteinase inhibitor (PI) accumulation has been described as a plant defense response against insects and pathogens. The induction of PIs is known to be regulated by endogenous chemical factors including phytohormones. We studied the induction of barley chymotrypsin and trypsin inhibitory activities by aphid infestation, mechanical wounding, abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA). Wounding experiments led to a minimal accumulation of PI activity (16% over controls) compared to that found in barley seedlings infested by aphids, where chymotrypsin inhibitor activity showed a two-fold increment. No systemic induction could be detected in healthy leaves of an infested or mechanically injured plant. Exogenous ABA applied on barley leaves increased the chymotrypsin inhibitory activity, while JA only increased trypsin inhibitory activity locally and systemically when applied exogenously. Our data suggest that two different mechanisms may be regulating the induction of these two types of inhibitors.