Inheritance of photoperiodic response in the bird cherry aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi

Abstract

Abstract. The photoperiodic induction of presexual females (gynoparae) and males of the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) was examined in single clones collected from different latitudes (N clone from Blair Atholl, 56.5d̀N 3.1d̀W; C clone from Leeds, 53.5d̀N 1.4d̀W and S clone from Exeter, 50.4d̀N 3.3d̀W). Critical night lengths (CNLs) for gynopara and male production (CNLs: 50% of maximum production) and inter‐clonal differences, defined by the different forms of progeny produced at a single discriminating night length (12 h 30 min), were measured at 16 ± 1d̀C. The aphid clones differed in CNL and in the morphs produced at the discriminating night length. These differences were used to investigate the inheritance of the photoperiodic response. In crosses between clones the photoperiodic response showed considerable overall variation. The variation in CNLs indicated that the photoperiodic response was unlikely to affect the overwintering success after long‐distance movement of clones from one latitude to another.