Aphid Host Research Articles

Quality of aphid honeydew for a parasitoid varies as a function of both aphid species and host plant

Honeydew i.e., the sugar-rich excretion of phloem-sap feeders, is the most available sugar source in agroecosystems which enables parasitoids to increase their fitness. For the parasitoids of honeydew-producing insects, honeydew is associated with host presence, suggesting that parasitoids can find carbohydrate sources and hosts at the same place. Hence, these parasitoids may have evolved to efficiently use the honeydew produced by their main hosts as a carbohydrate source. In this context, we assessed the relationship between the adult fitness (in terms of longevity and fecundity) of the aphid parasitoid Aphelinus abdominalis (which prefer attack aphid species belonging to the Macrosiphini tribe), fed on honeydew produced by 19 different plant-aphid combinations, and parasitoid preference (i.e., the choice of female to oviposit) and ability to produce offspring in these combinations. Honeydew quality was modulated by both the plant and aphid host species. The honeydew produced by eight aphid species (e.g., Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Aphis craccivora) resulted in high parasitoid longevity (same longevity as the honey-fed positive control) and an increase in egg load between 24 and 48 h, compared to the negative control (fed only water). In contrast, nine aphid species (e.g., Brevicoryne brassicae and Aphis nerii) excreted low-quality honeydew that did not increase parasitoid longevity or egg load (similar to the negative control water-fed parasitoids). There was no relationship between A. abdominalis adult fitness when fed various honeydews and its preference as well as its ability to produce offspring in the hosts producing these honeydews. Several hypotheses that may explain this lack of relationship are discussed.

A Symbiotic Virus Facilitates Aphid Adaptation to Host Plants by Suppressing Jasmonic Acid Responses.

Symbiotic viruses exist in many insects; however, their functions in host insects are not well understood. In this study, we explored the role of acyrthosiphon pisum virus (APV) in the interaction of its host aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum with plants. APV is primarily located in aphid salivary glands and gut and propagated in the insect. APV is horizontally transmitted to host plants during aphid feeding, but the virus does not replicate in the host plant. When the pea host race of aphids colonized two low-fitness plants, Medicago truncatula and Vicia villosa, the virus titers in both the aphids and plants significantly increased. Furthermore, APV infection strongly promoted the survival rate of the pea host race on V. villosa. Transcriptomic analysis showed that only 0.85% of aphid genes responded to APV infection when aphids fed on V. villosa, with a fold change in transcript levels of no more than fourfold. The improved survival due to APV infection was apparently related to the inhibitory effect of the virus on levels of phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA) and JA-isoleucine. Our data suggest a benefit of the symbiotic virus to its aphid host and demonstrate a novel case of symbiotic virus-mediated three-species interaction.

Bottom-up regulation of a tritrophic system by Beet yellows virus infection: consequences for aphid-parasitoid foraging behaviour and development.

Effects of plants on herbivores can cascade up the food web and modulate the abundance of higher trophic levels. In agro-ecosystems, plant viruses can affect the interactions between crops, crop pests, and natural enemies. Little is known, however, about the effects of viruses on higher trophic levels, including parasitoids and their ability for pest regulation. We tested the hypothesis that a plant virus affects parasitoid foraging behaviour through cascading effects on higher trophic levels. We predicted that the semi-persistent Beet yellows virus (BYV) would influence plant (Beta vulgaris) quality, as well as aphid host (Aphis fabae) quality for a parasitoid Lysiphlebus fabarum. We determined amino acid and sugar content in healthy and infected plants (first trophic level), lipid content and body size of aphids (second trophic level) fed on both plants, as well as foraging behaviour and body size of parasitoids (third trophic level) that developed on aphids fed on both plants. Our results showed that virus infection increased sugars and decreased total amino acid content in B. vulgaris. We further observed an increase in aphid size without modification in host aphid quality (i.e., lipid content), and a slight effect on parasitoid behaviour through an increased number of antennal contacts with host aphids. Although the BYV virus clearly affected the first two trophic levels, it did not affect development or emergence of parasitoids. As the parasitoid L. fabarum does not seem to be affected by the virus, we discuss the possibility of using it for the development of targeted biological control against aphids.

Interactions between host plant, Aphis fabae, and its natural enemies, Orius albidipennis and Lysiphlebus fabarum in a tritrophic system

Abstract The interactions between two natural enemies (NEs) were studied in a tritrophic system to evaluate the efficacy of simultaneous releases of a parasitoid, Lysiphlebus fabarum Marshal (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and a predator, Orius albidipennis Reuter (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) against Aphis fabae Scopoli (Homoptera: Aphididae). Three experiments were performed to evaluate the prey preference of a predator to parasitized versus unparasitized aphid hosts; to investigate the emission of volatile synomones by the host plant, Vicia fabae, and to determine its behavioral effect on the NEs; and to determine behavioral effect of volatile infochemicals between NEs. Results showed that the female predatory bug did not show significant preference between parasitized and unparasitized aphids, but the male bug had significant preference for parasitized mummies. Olfactometry trials documented that both NEs were significantly attracted to volatile cues released by the host plant infested with the aphid. Each of the NEs avoided odors which indicated the presence of another intraguild competitor. Therefore, simultaneously releases of the NEs are not recommended.

Factors driving susceptibility and resistance in aphids that share specialist fungal pathogens

Pandora neoaphidis and Entomophthora planchoniana are widespread and important specialist fungal pathogens of aphids in cereals (Sitobion avenae and Rhopalosiphum padi). The two aphid species share these pathogens and we compare factors influencing susceptibility and resistance. Among factors that may influence susceptibility and resistance are aphid behavior, conspecific versus heterospecific host, aphid morph, life cycle, and presence of protective endosymbionts. It seems that the conspecific host is more susceptible (less resistant) than the heterospecific host, and alates are more susceptible than apterae. We conceptualize the findings in a diagram showing possible transmission in field situations and we pinpoint where there are knowledge gaps.

Circulation of the Cultivable Symbiont Serratia symbiotica in Aphids Is Mediated by Plants.

Symbiosis is a common phenomenon in nature that substantially affects organismal ecology and evolution. Fundamental questions regarding how mutualistic associations arise and evolve in nature remain, however, poorly studied. The aphid-Serratia symbiotica bacterium interaction represents a valuable model to study mechanisms shaping these symbiotic interspecific interactions. S. symbiotica strains capable of living independently of aphid hosts have recently been isolated. These strains probably resulted from horizontal transfers and could be an evolutionary link to an intra-organismal symbiosis. In this context, we used the tripartite interaction between the aphid Aphis fabae, a cultivable S. symbiotica bacterium, and the host plant Vicia faba to evaluate the bacterium ability to circulate in this system, exploring its environmental acquisition by aphids and horizontal transmission between aphids via the host plant. Using molecular analyses and fluorescence techniques, we showed that the cultivable S. symbiotica can enter the plants and induce new bacterial infections in aphids feeding on these new infected plants. Remarkably, we also found that the bacterium can have positive effects on the host plant, mainly at the root level. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that cultivable S. symbiotica can be horizontally transferred from infected to uninfected aphids sharing the same plant, providing first direct evidence that plants can mediate horizontal transmission of certain strains of this symbiont species. These findings highlight the importance of considering symbiotic associations in complex systems where microorganisms can circulate between different compartments. Our study can thus have major implications for understanding the multifaceted interactions between microbes, insects and plants.

Bacterial communities of Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from pepper crops (Capsicum sp.)

Insects harbor a wide variety of microorganisms that form complex and changing communities and play an important role in the biology and evolution of their hosts. Aphids have been used as model organisms to study microorganism-insect interactions. Almost all aphids are infected with the obligate endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola and can host different bacteria that allow them to acquire traits of agronomic importance, such as resistance to high temperatures and/or defense against natural enemies. However, the bacterial communities of most aphid species remain poorly characterized. In this study, we used high-throughput DNA sequencing to characterize the bacterial communities of Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae from two cultivable pepper species, Capsicum frutescens (Tabasco variety) and C. annuum (Cayenne variety), in four localities of southwestern Colombia. In addition, we evaluated the dynamics of A. gossypii-associated microorganisms on a seasonal basis. Our results show that the bacterial communities of A. gossypii and M. persicae are dominated by the primary endosymbiont B. aphidicola, while the presence of the facultative symbiont Arsenophonus sp. was only detected in one A. gossypii population from cayenne pepper. In addition to these two known symbionts, eight bacterial OTUs were identified that presented a frequency of 1% or more in at least one of the analyzed populations. The results show that the bacterial communities of aphids associated with pepper crops appears to be structured according to the host aphid species and the geographical location, while no differences were observed in the diversity of bacteria between host plants. Finally, the diversity and abundance of the A. gossypii bacterial community was variable among the four sampling points evaluated over the year and showed a relation with the aphid’s population dynamics. This study represents the first approach to the knowledge of the bacterial community present in chili pepper aphids from Colombia. Nevertheless, more in-depth studies, including replicates, are required to confirm the patterns observed in the microbial communities of aphids from pepper crops.

Increases in Genistein in Medicago sativa Confer Resistance against the Pisum Host Race of Acyrthosiphon pisum.

Interspecific interaction with host plants have important consequences for the host race formation of herbivorous insects. Plant secondary metabolites, particularly those that are involved in host races specializing on plants, warrant the theory of host specialization. Acyrthosiphon pisum comprises various host races that adapt to different Fabaceae plants, which provides an ideal system for determining the behavioral and physiological mechanisms underlying host-adaptive diversification. The current study evaluated the effects of host transfer on population fitness, feeding behavior and the transcriptome-wide gene expression of the two host races of A. pisum, one of which was originally from Medicago sativa and the other from Pisum sativum. The results showed that the Pisum host race of A. pisum had a lower population abundance and feeding efficiency than the Medicago host race in terms of a longer penetration time and shorter duration times of phloem ingestion when fed on M. sativa. In contrast, few differences were found in the population abundance and feeding behavior of A. pisum between the two host races when fed on P. sativum. Meanwhile, of the nine candidate phenolic compounds, only genistein was significantly affected by aphid infestation; higher levels of genistein were detected in M. sativa after feeding by the Pisum host race, but these levels were reduced relative to uninfested controls after feeding by the Medicago host race, which suggested that genistein may be involved in the specialization of the aphid host race on M. sativa. Further exogenous application of genistein in artificial diets showed that the increase in genistein reduced the survival rate of the Pisum host race but had little effect on that of the Medicago host race. The transcriptomic profiles indicated that the transcripts of six genes with functions related to detoxification were up-regulated in the Pisum host race relative to the Medicago host race of A. pisum. These results suggested that the inducible plant phenolics and associated metabolic process in aphids resulted in their differential adaptations to their Fabaceae host.

Detection and geographic distribution of seven facultative endosymbionts in two Rhopalosiphum aphid species.

Study of the mutualistic associations between facultative symbionts and aphids are developed only in a few models. That survey on the situation and distribution of the symbionts in a certain area is helpful to obtain clues for the acquisition and spread of them as well as their roles played in host evolution. To understand the infection patterns of seven facultative symbionts (Serratia symbiotica, Hamiltonella defensa, Regiella insecticola, Rickettsia, Spiroplasma, Wolbachia, and Arsenophonus) in Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus) and Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), we collected 882 R. maidis samples (37 geographical populations) from China and 585 R. padi samples (32 geographical populations) from China and Europe. Results showed that both species were widely infected with various symbionts and totally 50.8% of R. maidis and 50.1% of R. padi were multi‐infected with targeted symbionts. However, very few Rhopalosiphum aphids were infected with S. symbiotica. The infection frequencies of some symbionts were related to the latitude of collecting sites, suggesting the importance of environmental factors in shaping the geographic distribution of facultative symbionts. Also, R. maidis and R. padi were infected with different H. defensa strains based on phylogenetic analysis which may be determined by host ×symbiont genotype interactions. According to our results, the ubiquitous symbionts may play important roles in the evolution of their host aphid and their impacts on adaptation of R. padi and R. maidis were discussed as well.

Integrative taxonomy of root aphid parasitoids from the genus Paralipsis (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) with description of new species.

Species from the genus Paralipsis are obligatory endoparasitoids of root aphids in the Palaearctic. It is known that these species are broadly distributed, parasitizing various aphid hosts and showing great biological and ecological diversity. On the other hand, this group of endoparasitoids is understudied and was thought to be represented by a single species in Europe, viz., Paralipsisenervis (Nees). However, recent description of two new species indicated the possibility of cryptic speciation and recognition of additional Paralipsis species in Europe. In this research, Paralipsis specimens collected during the last 60 years from eight European countries, as well as one sample from Morocco, were subjected to molecular and morphological characterization. Newly designed genus-specific degenerative primers successfully targeted short overlapping fragments of COI of the mitochondrial DNA. Molecular analyses showed clear separation of four independent lineages, two of which are the known species P.enervis and P.tibiator, while two new species are described here, viz., P.brachycaudi Tomanović & Starý, sp. n. and P.rugosa Tomanović & Starý, sp. n. No clear specialization of the taxa to a strict root aphid host has been determined. The recognized mitochondrial lineages were distinct one from another, but with a substantial within-lineage divergence rate, clearly indicating the complexity of this group of parasitoids, on which further research is required in order to clarify the factors triggering their genetic differentiation. We reviewed literature data and new records of Paralipsisenervis aphid host associations and distributions. A key for the identification of all known Paralipsis species is provided and illustrated.

Laboratory tests to estimate the non-target impacts of four Aphidius spp. parasitoids in the field

A ‘risk score’ approach to help determine the potential impact of biological control agents on non-target species, previously proposed for weed biocontrol agents, was examined in an ex post study for insect biocontrol agents. ‘Risk scores’ (% parasitism for non-target aphid species/% parasitism for target aphid species) were calculated for 19 aphid (New Zealand adventive and indigenous) species and 4 introduced (New Zealand) Aphidius biocontrol species, based on previously published choice and no-choice host range laboratory testing. Field hosts for each Aphidius parasitoid and aphid host combination were also examined through an extensive literature review. Strong correlations between ‘risk scores’ for both choice and no-choice laboratory assays and field host binary values (host: yes or no) were obtained for each Aphidius/aphid dataset, but there was no threshold score that indicated using the approach to predict parasitoid field host ranges could result in type II errors. In contrast, a second analysis that categorized aphid hosts as ‘major field hosts’, if literature records indicated high (≥15%) levels of parasitism in the field, showed a clear threshold risk score predicting whether an aphid was a major field host in no-choice tests. We conclude that this approach could potentially be used to predict the likelihood of the impact of Aphidius biocontrol agents on non-target aphid species. We discuss the pros and cons of this approach to help scientists and regulators in the assessment for new biocontrol agent introductions, including the need for this ‘risk score’ approach to be tested on a greater range of insects.

Host Selection Behavior of the Green Peach Aphid, Myzus persicae, in Response to Volatile Organic Compounds and Nitrogen Contents of Cabbage Cultivars.

Plants emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in response to herbivore attack. VOCs emitted from the Chinese cabbage cultivars in response to the damage by the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, were unknown. Using a solid-phase microextraction-based headspace collection method, we investigated and compared the emissions of VOCs from seven Chinese cabbage cultivars (Qibao, Qingan 80, Lvlong, Yuanbao, Qingan 70, Jinlv, and Lvqiu 66) in response to M. persicae attack. Our results showed that the VOCs emitted from the cultivars Qingan 80 and Yuanbao differed significantly from the other cultivars in response to the attraction of wingless M. persicae. Most importantly, out of the 27 detected compounds, α-caryophyllene was detected only in Qingan 80 and Qibao, but not in the other five cultivars. Among the compounds detected, 2 monoterpene and 12 terpenes were predominant in all cabbage cultivars. Furthermore, the wingless M. persicae showed preference to Qingan 80 while it had the highest nitrogen content among the tested cultivars. Moreover, we found a remarkable relationship among M. persicae attraction, plant nitrogen content, and total volatile emissions. Nitrogen content of the plants has a significant impact on volatile emission and preference behavior of M. persicae. Our results indicate that the wingless M. persicae were efficient in their interspecific host selection with an ability to distinguish plant cultivar differences by leaf nitrogen content. This study will be helpful in understanding aphid host selection, and sets a stage to further study the attractant-based integrated aphid management programs.

Untargeted Metabolomics Approach Reveals Differences in Host Plant Chemistry Before and After Infestation With Different Pea Aphid Host Races.

The pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum), a phloem-sucking insect, has undergone a rapid radiation together with the domestication and anthropogenic range expansion of several of its legume host plants. This insect species is a complex of at least 15 genetically different host races that can all develop on the universal host plant Vicia faba. However, each host race is specialized on a particular plant species, such as Medicago sativa, Trifolium pratense, or Pisum sativum, which makes it an attractive model insect to study ecological speciation. Previous work revealed that pea aphid host plants produce a specific phytohormone profile depending on the host plant – host race combination. Native aphid races induce lower defense hormone levels in their host plant than non-native pea aphid races. Whether these changes in hormone levels also lead to changes in other metabolites is still unknown. We used a mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomic approach to identify plant chemical compounds that vary among different host plant-host race combinations and might therefore, be involved in pea aphid host race specialization. We found significant differences among the metabolic fingerprints of the four legume species studied prior to aphid infestation, which correlated with aphid performance. After infestation, the metabolic profiles of M. sativa and T. pratense plants infested with their respective native aphid host race were consistently different from profiles after infestation with non-native host races and from uninfested control plants. The metabolic profiles of P. sativum plants infested with their native aphid host race were also different from plants infested with non-native host races, but not different from uninfested control plants. The compounds responsible for these differences were putatively identified as flavonoids, saponins, non-proteinogenic amino acids and peptides among others. As members of these compound classes are known for their activity against insects and aphids in particular, they may be responsible for the differential performance of host races on native vs. non-native host plants. We conclude that the untargeted metabolomic approach is suitable to identify candidate compounds involved in the specificity of pea aphid – host plant interactions.

Modeling interactions and dynamics of Aphidius matricariae and Praon volucre (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on two major aphid species in a greenhouse

Interspecific interactions between parasitoid wasps affect the selection of effective biological control agents. In this study, we investigated the effects of extrinsic interspecific interactions between Aphidius matricariae Halifay and Praon volucre (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on the population sizes of each parasitoid on Myzus persicae (Sulzer) on sweet pepper and Aphis gossypii Glover on cucumber, at 25 ± 2 °C, 60 ± 5% RH and a 14:10 h L:D photoperiod. The population dynamics of these parasitoids were also analyzed numerically using the Lotka–Volterra competition model. Interspecific interaction between the two parasitoids had reduced the population size of each parasitoid on both host aphids. The effect of this interspecific interaction b was more pronounced for P. volucre. Without interspecific interactions, the mean population size of P. volucre varied from 85.2 ± 10.70 to 107.1 ± 12.40 numbers on M. persicae and from 187.8 ± 18.4 to 249.8 ± 24.7 numbers on A. gossypii. Under conditions of coexistence with A. matricariae, however, the abundance of P. volucre significantly decreased to 8.92 ± 2.65–17 ± 5.16 numbers on M. persicae and 53.6 ± 19–65.3 ± 25.2 numbers on A. gossypii. Phase diagrams and time trajectories showed that coexistence of these two parasitoids on M. persicae and A. gossypii lasted for just a short period after which the inferior parasitoid population, P. volucre, declined to zero.

Virulence of Two Entomophthoralean Fungi, Pandora neoaphidis and Entomophthora planchoniana, to Their Conspecific (Sitobion avenae) and Heterospecific (Rhopalosiphum padi) Aphid Hosts.

Pandora neoaphidis and Entomophthora planchoniana (phylum Entomophthoromycota) are important fungal pathogens on cereal aphids, Sitobion avenae and Rhopalosiphum padi. Here, we evaluated and compared for the first time the virulence of these two fungi, both produced in S. avenae cadavers, against the two aphid species subjected to the same exposure. Two laboratory bioassays were carried out using a method imitating entomophthoralean transmission in the field. Healthy colonies of the two aphid species were exposed to the same conidial shower of P. neoaphidis or E. planchoniana, in both cases from a cadaver of S. avenae. The experiments were performed under LD 18:6 h at 21 °C and a successful transmission was monitored for a period of nine days after initial exposure. Susceptibility of both S. avenae and R. padi to fungal infection showed a sigmoid trend. The fitted nonlinear model showed that the conspecific host, S. avenae, was more susceptible to E. planchoniana infection than the heterospecific host R. padi, was. In the case of P. neoaphidis, LT50 for S. avenae was 5.0 days compared to 5.9 days for R. padi. For E. planchoniana, the LT50 for S. avenae was 4.9 days, while the measured infection level in R. padi was always below 50 percent. Our results suggest that transmission from conspecific aphid host to heterospecific aphid host can occur in the field, but with expected highest transmission success to the conspecific host.

Turnip aphids (Lipaphis erysimi) discriminate host plants based on the strain of Cauliflower mosaic virus infection

The degree of vector preference for virus-infected plants can alter the progress of virus epidemics. The objective of this study is to test whether infection of turnip plants with different strains of Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) can influence the feeding preference of the turnip aphid (Lipaphis erysimi). Three different strains of CaMV that cause different types of symptoms on turnips were used in this study. These strains were NY8153 (severe, causes necrosis of the midrib and mottling with severe stunting), W260 (mild, causes mosaic with moderate stunting) and H12 (symptomless). Results showed that turnip aphids preferred W260-infected plants, in general. When given a choice, aphids chose W260-infected plants significantly more often than NY8153-infected or healthy plants. W260-infected vs. H12-infected plants showed a trend in the same direction. Also, aphids chose plants infected with H12 more often than healthy plants when given a choice. By contrast, turnip aphids showed no preference between NY8153-infected and healthy plants, or between NY8153-infected and H12-infected plants. Therefore, we conclude that aphids can recognize plants infected with different strains of CaMV and will choose plants with specific strains over others. Specifically, aphids prefer W260-infected turnips over other choices. These results suggest that virus infection affects the aphid host choice and this may have implications for the spread of different virus strains.

Density-dependent parasitism of cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora by Lysiphlebus fabarum, Binodoxys acalephae, and Aphidius matricariae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae)

Biological control, as a major component of pest management strategies, uses natural biological agents to reduce pest populations. Studying the interaction among Aphis craccivora and its parasitoids including, Lysiphlebus fabarum, Binodoxys acalephae, and Aphidius matricariae in 2016 and 2017 in Tehran Parke-Shahr, showed positive, significant correlations in all cases between the densities of three parasitoid species and that of aphid nymphs and adults. The density of the parasitoids increased by increasing the density of the aphids. The parasitoids showed aggregative behavior in response to different densities of the host. There was a positive density-dependent correlation between the density of A. craccivora and rate of parasitism. Parasitism rates of nymphs and adult aphids by L. fabarum, B. acalephae, and A. matricariae increased or decreased along with decline or increase in the population of the aphid host. In 2016 spring, the highest rates of parasitism on aphid nymphs by L. fabarum, B. acalephae, and A. matricariae were 46.82, 23.09, and 17.16%, respectively. In 2017 spring, the highest rates of parasitism on aphid nymphs by L. fabarum, B. acalephae, and A. matricariae were 48.97, 21.77, and 15.06%, respectively. So, given the accordance between changes in aphid population and that of parasitoids, and parasitoids’ efficacy in Tehran’s polluted air, they can be used as biological agents in the management of A. craccivora population.

Limited effects of the maternal rearing environment on the behaviour and fitness of an insect herbivore and its natural enemy.

The maternal rearing environment can affect offspring fitness or phenotype indirectly via ‘maternal effects’ and can also influence a mother’s behaviour and fecundity directly. However, it remains uncertain how the effects of the maternal rearing environment cascade through multiple trophic levels, such as in plant-insect herbivore-natural enemy interactions. Pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) show differential fitness on host legume species, while generalist aphid parasitoids can show variable fitness on different host aphid species, suggesting that maternal effects could operate in a plant-aphid-parasitoid system. We tested whether the maternal rearing environment affected the behaviour and fitness of aphids by rearing aphids on two plant hosts that were either the same as or different from those experienced by the mothers. A similar approach was used to test the behaviour and fitness of parasitoid wasps in response to maternal rearing environment. Here, the host environment was manipulated at the plant or plant and aphid trophic levels for parasitoid wasps. We also quantified the quality of host plants for aphids and host aphids for parasitoid wasps. In choice tests, aphids and parasitoid wasps had no preference for the plant nor plant and aphid host environment on which they were reared. Aphid offspring experienced 50.8% higher intrinsic rates of population growth, 43.4% heavier offspring and lived 14.9% longer when feeding on bean plants compared to aphids feeding on pea plants, with little effect of the maternal rearing environment. Plant tissue nitrogen concentration varied by 21.3% in response to aphid mothers’ rearing environment, and these differences correlated with offspring fitness. Maternal effects in parasitoid wasps were only observed when both the plant and aphid host environment was changed: wasp offspring were heaviest by 10.9–73.5% when both they and their mothers developed in bean-reared pea aphids. Also, parasitoid wasp fecundity was highest by 38.4% when offspring were oviposited in the maternal rearing environment. These findings indicate that maternal effects have a relatively small contribution towards the outcome of plant-aphid-parasitoid interactions.

Mate choice in the parasitoid Lysiphlebus fabarum is conditioned by host species and influences progeny fitness

We used the aphid parasitoid wasp, Lysiphlebus fabarum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) reared on host aphids Aphis fabae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Aphis gossypii to examine whether or not mating preference can be conditioned by the host species on which the wasps were reared. The effect of the parental hosts on the fitness of the progeny was also examined. The results revealed that male and female wasps reared on one host species preferred each other as mates than those individuals reared on a different species. This was demonstrated by counting the number of mating successes and the olfactory response of males to the odor of females that developed in Aphis fabae or A. gossypii. The results also revealed that conditional mate choice mediated by a host species increased the fitness of the female progeny (i.e. larger bodies, shorter developmental time and higher egg load with larger eggs), and led to a higher female sex ratio. Because the particular host species confers fitness on the developed wasps, the fitness traits appear in the progeny when both parents are reared on one host species, but not in the progeny of two parents reared on different host species.

Plant Viruses Transmitted in Two Different Modes Produce Differing Effects on Small RNA-Mediated Processes in Their Aphid Vector

Transmission of plant viruses by aphids involves multitrophic interactions among host plants, aphid vectors, and plant viruses. Here, we used small RNA (sRNA) sequencing to visualize the sRNA response of Myzus persicae to two plant viruses that M. persicae transmits in different modes: the nonpersistent Potato virus Y (PVY) versus the persistent Potato leafroll virus (PLRV). Aphids exposed to PLRV produced significantly less 22 mers aligned to the aphid genome, and an abundance of 26 to 27 mers, many of which were predicted to be piRNA. Additionally, expression of Buchnera aphidicola tRNA-derived sRNAs was influenced by PLRV and, to a lesser extent, PVY, suggesting that plant viruses alter the aphid-endosymbiont relationship. Finally, aphids exposed to PLRV-infected plants generated an abundance of unusually long sRNAs and a reduced number of 22 mers against an aphid virus, Myzus persicae densovirus (MpDNV) and had higher MpDNV titer. Expression of the PLRV silencing suppressor P0 in plants recapitulated the increase in MpDNV titer in the absence of PLRV infection. Our results show that plant viruses transmitted in two different modes cause distinct effects on their vector with regards to post-transcriptional gene regulation, symbiosis with Buchnera, and the antiviral immune response of aphids to an aphid-infecting densovirus.