Probing behavior of bird cherry-oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) on native bird cherry Prunus padus L. and alien invasive black cherry Prunus serotina Erhr. in Europe and the role of cyanogenic glycosides

Aleksandra Halarewicz,Beata Gabryś

doi:10.1007/s11829-012-9228-x

Abstract

The probing behavior of bird cherry-oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi was studied on its natural winter host in Europe, the bird cherry Prunus padus, and on the invasive black cherry Prunus serotina, on which spring generations of R. padi do not survive. The EPG-recorded behavior of R. padi on bird cherry and black cherry showed differences in crucial aspects of probing and feeding. The period of the pre-phloem penetration was twice as long and rarely interrupted in aphids on bird cherry as opposed to aphids on black cherry. On black cherry, there was a considerable delay between finding and accepting the phloem. Aphids that had sampled phloem sap either refused to ingest it or the ingestion periods were very short. Amygdalin and prunasin (cyanogenic glycosides present in leaves of Prunus) seriously impeded ingestion activities when applied in pure sucrose diet. The role of amygdalin and prunasin in winter host plant selection and host alternation in R. padi is discussed.

Highlights

The bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi (L.)) (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae) is one of the most important pests of temperate cereal crops, causing damage as a virus vector and by direct feeding (Vickerman and Wratten 1979)
The probing behavior of bird cherry-oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi was studied on its natural winter host in Europe, the bird cherry Prunus padus, and on the invasive black cherry Prunus serotina, on which spring generations of R. padi do not survive
The average number of epidermal probes before the first phloem phase was similar on both plant species

Summary

Introduction

The bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi (L.)) (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae) is one of the most important pests of temperate cereal crops, causing damage as a virus vector and by direct feeding (Vickerman and Wratten 1979). Holocyclic development, basically in areas where winters are generally cold starts with the hatching of virginoparous females (fundatrices) from the eggs that overwintered in bark crevices of the aphid‘s primary (i.e., ‘‘winter’’) host plant. Later, winged males are produced on secondary host plants and they migrate to winter host as well, to mate with the oviparae. The latter lay the overwintering eggs (Dixon 1971; Powell and Hardie 2001). Anholocyclic populations of R. padi have been described, too These populations overwinter in the form of virginoparous females on winter cereal crops and other Poaceae, where conditions permit and where the basic primary host, bird cherry Padus avium Mill.), or alternative primary hosts are not available (Simon et al 1991; Blackman and Eastop 2006)

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Conclusion