Arthropod-Plant Interactions (2015) 9, 55-65

Katarzyna Golan, Katarzyna Rubinowska, Katarzyna Kmiec, Izabela Kot, Edyta Górska-Drabik, Bozena Lagowska and Wladyslaw Michalek (2015)
Impact of scale insect infestation on the content of photosynthetic pigments and chlorophyll fluorescence in two host plant species
Arthropod-Plant Interactions 9 (1), 55-65
Abstract: The aim of this experiment was to determine plant responses to Coccus hesperidum L. infestation on two host plants. Groups of five lemon and five fern plants were colonised by various numbers of mobile C. hesperidum instar nymphs. After 6 months, all scale insect individuals were counted on each plant. According to the insect density, the plants were divided into a five-degree series. In all density classes of host plants tested, the infestation of scale insects decreased the chlorophyll and carotenoid content as well as the value of three indicators of photosynthetic activity. The strongest decrease in the analysed pigments was observed for the smallest abundance of insects (first-class density) in lemon leaves and in second-class density in fern leaves. The strongest reactions of the chlorophyll fluorescence indicators were observed in density classes III and IV in the fern leaves and density classes IV or V in the lemon leaves. The reactions depended on the specific properties of plants and abundance of insects feeding on them.
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Database assignments for author(s): Izabela Kot, Edyta Gorska-Drabik

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
damage/losses/economics
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Coccus hesperidum	Citrus (genus)