Journal of Applied Entomology (2004) 128, 522-527

J.T. Margaritopoulos, A. Souri and J.A. Tsitsipis (2004)
Feeding studies on gynoparae, males and apterous virginoparae of Myzus persicae on potato by electrical penetration graph
Journal of Applied Entomology 128 (8), 522-527
Abstract: Feeding behaviour of parthenogenetic apterae, post-teneral gynoparae and males of a holocyclic parthenogenetic lineage of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hem., Aphididae) was studied on potato plants, Solanum tuberosum L. (Solanaceae) by DC-electrical penetration graph recording. Differences were observed between morphs during the 7-h recordings, specifically in the first phase of subcuticular probing and in xylem and phloem-related activities. The time required for the first penetration and first cell puncture of the non-vascular tissues was shorter in apterae than in gynoparae and males. Apterae more often showed phloem activities and sustained sap ingestion (100%) than winged morphs (ca. 25%). In addition, phloem ingestion was much longer in apterae than in winged morphs, 3458 s and 25-70 s respectively. In contrast, winged morphs spent 14-21% of the available time ingesting sap from xylem while in apterae xylem sap uptake was only for 2% of the time. Furthermore, the data showed that males perform in general all the feeding behaviours that other conspecific morphs exhibit. The differences in feeding behaviour among morphs of M. persicae are discussed in relation to host specialization and to their possible involvement in non-persistent transmission of viruses.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): John T. Margaritopoulos, John A. Tsitsipis

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Myzus persicae	Potato (Solanum tuberosum)	Greece