Effects of Host Plants on the Growth, Reproduction, and Defense in Pea Aphids, Acyrthosiphon Pisum

Abstract

Background: Pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) possess a weak immune system, but they can firmly mount immunological responses. However, the influence of different plants on their defense against different microbes remains largely unknown. In addition, no previous research has integrated the growth, reproduction, and defense responses of pea aphids feeding on different plants. Objective: This study aims to investigate the growth, reproduction, and defense responses of pea aphids feeding on different plants. Methods: Pea aphids were cultivated on both Medicago sativa and Vicia faba. Growth and reproduction were evaluated. Additionally, we monitored the survival and microbial loads of pea aphids after bacterial and fungal infections. Results : Pea aphids reared on M. sativa had lower growth, lower intrinsic rate of increase, and lower finite rate of increase when compared to aphids feeding on V. faba. The net reproduction was lower in aphids feeding on M. sativa, although the difference was not significant. The mean time of generation and pre-reproductive periods was longer for aphids reared on M. sativa than for aphids reared on V. faba. In the infection experiments, we found that aphid survival was not affected by the host plant. However, aphids reared on M. sativa generally harbored fewer microbial loads than those reared on V. faba. Conclusions: The growth and reproduction of pea aphids are affected by the host plant. Aphids feeding on different plants had different tolerances to microbial infections. Our study sheds light on improving biological control program for aphids.