Journal of Economic Entomology (2018) 111, 899-908

Yueyue Tian, Yunhe Zhao, Lixia Zhang, Wei Mu and Zhengqun Zhang (2018)
Morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses of two tea cultivars to Empoasca onukii (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) infestation
Journal of Economic Entomology 111 (2), 899-908
Abstract: The tea green leafhopper, Empoasca onukii Matsuda (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is an economically important pest of tea crops, Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze (Ericales: Theaceae), in China. The morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes of two tea cultivars, the normal green tea cultivar 'Fudingdabai' and the novel chlorophyll-deficient albino cultivar 'Huangjinya', infested by E. onukii were investigated to determine the tolerance of different tea cultivars to E. onukii attack. E.onukii infestation affected the growth of tea plants, and decreased the shoot length, leaf area, leaf thickness, and stem diameter. Also, E. onukii infestation lowered the thicknesses of upper epidermis, palisade tissue, and spongy tissue of leaves, and the parenchyma tissue thickness and pith diameter of stem internode. E.onukii infestation reduced the chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid contents within the leaves of 'Huangjinya,' which further influenced the photosynthetic rate. The maximum quantum yield and actual photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, and non-photochemical quenching in 'Huangjinya' were inhibited under E. onukii infestation. Peroxidase activity of E. onukii-infested 'Huangjinya' increased more than superoxide dismutase and catalase. In addition, E. onukii feeding changed the contents of free amino acids, tea polyphenols, caffeine, and catechins in leaves of 'Huangjinya'. Overall, the light-induced albino cultivar 'Huangjinya' was susceptible to E. onukii while 'Fudingdabai' was resistant.
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Link to article at publishers website

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.
	Matsumurasca onukii	Tea (Camellia sinensis)