Abstract
Black bean aphid, Aphis fabae (Homoptera; Aphididae) is a serious pest causing crop loss. Plant-aphid interaction is a dynamic system subjected to continual variation and changes. Host plants induce various biochemical and physical defense mechanisms due to aphid feeding. Aphids can overcome plant defenses by enzymatic adaptations and sequestering secondary metabolites produced by the plant within their bodies as a defense against their enemies. Many strategies were developed and evolved by aphids in order to overcome plant defense barriers which allowed them to feed, grow and reproduce on their host plants. This study aimed to aid in better understanding of the effect of altering host plant on specialist and generalist aphid fitness.The influence of plant defense on population development of Aphis fabae was also investigated. Analyses for insect enzymes were also demonstrated in addition to further biochemical studies on host plant defences. Generalists showed different ecological and enzymatic adaptations towards host plants than specialist Aphis fabae. The results were fully discussed in details.
Highlights
Aphis fabae has a host-alternating life cycle [1], overwintering on its winter host, spindle (Euonymus europaeus) [2], and migrating in the spring to a wide variety of summer hosts that include bean, sugar and beet [3,4]
♦ Fecundity There was significant differences in generalist A. fabae number of offspring observed on three tested host plants (x2 = 1067.22; d.f. = 2; P < 0.0001)
The study clearly showed that V. fabae was the most suitable host for apterous aphid A. fabae fecundity and longevity due to including the best host quality [29], this is in agreement with [30,31]
Summary
Aphis fabae has a host-alternating life cycle [1], overwintering on its winter host, spindle (Euonymus europaeus) [2], and migrating in the spring to a wide variety of summer hosts that include bean, sugar and beet [3,4]. After settling on the summer host plant, the spring migrant aphid gives birth to wingless females (generalist wingless virginoparae) that undergo several generations of parthenogenetic viviparous reproduction. High population densities on the secondary host plant cause the production of specialist winged virginoparae [4], which migrate to other summer host plants to start new colonies. The first activity of aphids is to determine whether a plant is suitable for them or not [5]. After landing on a plant, aphids ingest phloem sap from their hosts through narrow piercing-sucking mouthparts called stylets [5]. Aphids’ stylets form mechanical damage that may influence plant responses to infestation [6]
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