Aseptic Dual Culture of the Aphid Chaitophorus salijaponicus with Different Tissues of Salix Hosts

Abstract

The apterous generation of the viviparous aphid Chaitophorus salijaponicus was propagated aseptically on in vitro cultures of host shoots for more than 34 passages and 17 months. On the best suited host (Salix alba) a single nymph yielded a colony of 126.3 ± 24.4 individuals within 4 weeks. Other tissues than normal host shoots (callus, root cultures, fasciated shoots) did not support aphid propagation. Aphid colony development accelerated the senescence of host shoots and severely inhibited the development of adventitious root systems. The aspects of insect surface sterility, aphid colony development and its influence on the host are discussed