Reproduction and Population Dynamics as Biotypic Markers of Russian Wheat Aphid Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov).

Watson Ngenya,Isaiah Tabu,Emily Masinde,Joyce Malinga

doi:10.3390/insects7020012

Watson Ngenya, Isaiah Tabu + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/insects7020012

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Abstract

Russian wheat aphid Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov) is widely established in wheat-growing countries where it causes significant economic losses. The development and use of Russian wheat aphid (RWA)-resistant wheat varieties has been constrained by the variation in resident RWA populations and the evolution of virulent biotypes. An experiment was set up at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Njoro, to characterize RWA populations based on phenotypic characteristics of reproduction, development and population dynamics. RWA populations from the regions of Eldoret, Mau Narok and Njoro were used in the study. A factorial experiment was set up in randomized complete block design replicated eleven times. A single day-old nymph was placed on a new, fully-open leaf in a 0.5 cm-diameter clear plastic straw leaf cage and observed daily for its entire lifetime. The results showed that there were variations in aphid lifespan, reproductive longevity and aphid fecundity between populations, indicating that the phenotypic markers used to determine biotypes were good enough to show distinct biotypes among populations of the RWA in Kenya. Further, the study concluded that the use of phenotypic life and reproductive markers was a valid way of characterizing biotypes of RWA worldwide.

Highlights

Russian wheat aphid (RWA), Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov), is a major pest of wheat and barley, especially in warm climates, causing massive grain losses in severe infestation
HPR is an integral component of integrated pest management (IPM), since it can be combined with host plant resistance and cultural control and even chemical control to achieve sustainable management of the pest population below the economic threshold
The studies showed that RWA collected from Eldoret, Mau Narok and Njoro differed in growth and reproductive potential, especially on susceptible host Kwale as compared to resistant KRWA9, where no differences in growth and reproductive potential were noticeable

Summary

Introduction

Russian wheat aphid (RWA), Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov), is a major pest of wheat and barley, especially in warm climates, causing massive grain losses in severe infestation. Long-term sustainable management of RWA relies on host plant resistance (HPR). The use of HPR is one of the least expensive and most important ways of protecting the crop from losses attributed to RWA damage and, at the same time, protecting the environment from pesticide contamination [7]. HPR is an integral component of integrated pest management (IPM), since it can be combined with host plant resistance and cultural control and even chemical control to achieve sustainable management of the pest population below the economic threshold. IPM is recommended as the most appropriate and desirable pest control strategy for RWA management [8,9]

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