Article
Entomology
Xiong Peng, Lang Liu, Yi-Xiao Huang, Su-Ji Wang, De-Xian Li, Shu-Ting Chen, Jean-Christophe Simon, Ming-Jing Qu, Mao-Hua Chen
Summary: This study focused on the role of chemosensory proteins (CSPs) in the host-location behavior of aphids, particularly in response to different Poaceae species. Results showed that CSPs, particularly CSP4, CSP5, and CSP6, play a key role in mediating aphid responses to host plant odors and volatile compounds. Various factors such as aphid morph, tissue, and starvation state also influence the expression patterns and effectiveness of CSPs in host-plant selection. These findings provide insights into the mechanism of host plant selection in herbivorous insects.
Article
Zoology
Stephanie Saussure, Annette Bruun Jensen, Marie L. Davey, Annette Folkedal Schjoll, Karin Westrum, Ingeborg Klingen
Summary: In Norway, the overwintering behavior of the bird cherry-oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi on the bird cherry tree Prunus padus was studied over a three-year period. A total of 3599 overwintering aphid eggs were found, with 59.5% of them being dead. Additionally, 879 overwintering fungus-killed cadavers were observed, which were infected with Zoophthora cf. aphidis or Entomophthora planchoniana. The study suggests that Prunus padus may serve as a reservoir for fungi infecting aphids in cereals during spring.
JOURNAL OF INVERTEBRATE PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Hong-Ling Liu, Zhi-Teng Chen, Chao Liu, Xing-Long Wu, Ke-Jun Xiao, De-Qiang Pu
Summary: The study found that the genetic structure of the black citrus aphid population in China is relatively stable, with some genetic differences among populations but no apparent lineages. There is a high positive correlation between geographic distance and genetic distance, indicating recent population expansion events may have occurred in A. aurantii.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Anisa Haq, Waheed Murad, Sarir Ahmad
Summary: To understand the management of Rhopalosiphum padi L. in wheat crop, experiments were conducted to assess the influence of host plant resistance and bio-rational insecticides. Field experiments over two growing years revealed that Pirsabak-08 variety exhibited high resistance to aphids, while Faisalabad-08 variety was the most susceptible. The results also showed a negative correlation between aphid attraction and trichome density. It was concluded that utilizing resistant hosts and safer insecticides can effectively reduce wheat damage caused by aphids.
TURKISH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Despoina Ev Kapantaidaki, Afroditi Krokida, Vasiliki Evangelou, Panagiotis Milonas, Dimitrios P. Papachristos
Summary: A molecular diagnostic technique has been developed to accurately differentiate 11 aphid species in citrus cultivation. This technique allows for accurate and simple identification of aphids at any life stage, and can be a useful tool for monitoring economically important aphid populations.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ping Gao, Siqian Zhang, Junjie Tan, Xinghao Li, Maohua Chen
Summary: In this study, it was found that the expression levels of Rhopalosiphum padi CSPs (RpCSPs) were significantly upregulated after exposure to thiamethoxam, and the suppression of RpCSP4 and RpCSP5 enhanced the susceptibility of R. padi to thiamethoxam. Molecular docking and fluorescence competitive binding demonstrated that RpCSP4 and RpCSP5 had high binding affinity for thiamethoxam. These results indicate that RpCSP4 and RpCSP5 are associated with insecticide resistance through high binding affinity to reduce insecticide toxicity.
PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cassie Sims, Michael A. Birkett, Neil J. Oldham, Robert A. Stockman, David M. Withall
Summary: This study investigated the binding of aphid pheromones and OBPs in the pea aphid. The results showed that ApisOBP6 was able to bind the sex pheromone components and discriminate from the alarm pheromone and a plant compound. These findings provide insights into pre-receptor odorant discrimination and potential functions of aphid olfactory proteins.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Jyoti Sharma, Beant Singh
Summary: Host plant resistance is a promising alternative to aphidicides for controlling bird cherry-oat aphid infestation in wheat. Various experiments were conducted to determine the resistance mechanism in diploid Aegilops tauschii accessions, revealing a combination of antixenosis and antibiosis as the main factors contributing to resistance against Rhopalosiphum padi.
Article
Entomology
Belachew Asalf, Andrea Ficke, Ingeborg Klingen
Summary: The study revealed that aphid feeding predisposed wheat plants to fungal disease, but aphids preferred and reproduced better on leaves that had not been infected by the fungal pathogen. These findings are crucial in understanding the interactions between multiple pests on wheat and developing new strategies for integrated pest management in the future.
Article
Entomology
Zuqing Hu, Ruirui Chai, Xin Liu, Yao Dong, Dan Su, Nicolas Desneux, Xiaoling Tan, Chen Luo
Summary: The selection preferences of different morphs of aphid vectors for infected or noninfected wheat plants were studied, revealing that infective aphids prefer noninfected plants while noninfective aphids tend to select infected plants, possibly due to the influence of volatile components. Furthermore, virus-infected plants release increased volatiles which may attract noninfective aphids in a concentration-dependent manner, providing new evidence for the vector manipulation hypothesis.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Xi-Zhong Yan, Li Ma, Xiao-Fei Li, Le Chang, Qing-Zhao Liu, Cheng-Fei Song, Jin-Yu Zhao, Xing-Tao Qie, Cai-Ping Deng, Chen-Zhu Wang, Chi Hao
Summary: This study identified green leaf volatiles and isothiocyanates as key olfactory cues for host selection of the diamondback moth. Trans-2-hexen-1-ol and isopropyl isothiocyanate were identified as attractive compounds that can be used in the biological control of the pest.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Xiangyang Xu, Genqiao Li, Dhondup Lhamo, Brett F. Carver, Brande B. H. Wulff, Yongqiang Gu, Steven S. Xu, Scott Armstrong
Summary: Bird cherry-oat aphid (BCOA) and greenbug are major threats to wheat production. Limited resistance genes for these pests exist in wheat improvement efforts. Therefore, it is urgent to identify new sources of resistance to BCOA and greenbug in wheat gene pools.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Ping Gao, Jun-Jie Tan, Sha Su, Su-Ji Wang, Xiong Peng, Mao-Hua Chen
Summary: This study found that Rhopalosiphum padi showed high resistance to Lambda-cyhalothrin, as well as cross-resistance to other pyrethroids. The overexpression of the RpCSP7 gene was identified as the main cause of resistance.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hendrik Willem Swiegers, Barbara Karpinska, Yan Hu, Ian C. Dodd, Anna-Maria Botha, Christine H. Foyer
Summary: Elevated CO2 concentrations affect plant architecture and susceptibility to insects. The study found that strigolactone is not crucial for plant acclimation to high CO2 levels, while salicylic acid and jasmonic acid play important regulatory roles. Pea aphid infestation affects the accumulation of these hormones, with gibberellic acid levels increased less in strigolactone signaling mutants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Muhammad Yasir Ali, Tayyaba Naseem, Jinping Zhang, Mingzhen Pan, Feng Zhang, Tong-Xian Liu
Summary: Plants have developed various chemical defenses to resist herbivores. This study focuses on how a parasitoid wasp, Aphelinus varipes, responds to plant volatiles after aphid infestation. The results show that the presence of aphids increases the attraction of the parasitoid. Different volatile profiles were found in chili pepper and cabbage cultivars after aphid infestation, and alpha-pinene was found to be a highly attractive volatile for the parasitoid. This study demonstrates the role of herbivore-induced plant volatiles in enhancing tritrophic interactions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Robert R. Junker, Jonas Kuppler, Luisa Amo, James D. Blande, Renee M. Borges, Nicole M. van Dam, Marcel Dicke, Stefan Doetterl, Bodil K. Ehlers, Florian Etl, Jonathan Gershenzon, Robert Glinwood, Rieta Gols, Astrid T. Groot, Martin Heil, Mathias Hoffmeister, Jarmo K. Holopainen, Stefan Jarau, Lena John, Andre Kessler, Jette T. Knudsen, Christian Kost, Anne-Amelie C. Larue-Kontic, Sara Diana Leonhardt, Dani Lucas-Barbosa, Cassie J. Majetic, Florian Menzel, Amy L. Parachnowitsch, Remy S. Pasquet, Erik H. Poelman, Robert A. Raguso, Joachim Ruther, Florian P. Schiestl, Thomas Schmitt, Dorothea Tholl, Sybille B. Unsicker, Niels Verhulst, Marcel E. Visser, Berhane T. Weldegergis, Tobias G. Koellner
Article
Agronomy
N. Robbertse, B. A. Omondi, I. M. Millar, K. Kruger, A. E. C. Jooste
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Pablo Urbaneja-Bernat, Jesica Perez-Rodriguez, Kerstin Kruger, Jose Catalan, Rositta Rizza, Estrella Hernandez-Suarez, Alberto Urbaneja, Alejandro Tena
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
J. Perez-Rodriguez, K. Kruger, M. Perez-Hedo, O. Ruiz-Rivero, A. Urbaneja, A. Tena
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eliska Vicherova, Robert Glinwood, Tomas Hajek, Petr Smilauer, Velemir Ninkovic
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Agronomy
Nikola Dukic, Goran Andric, Robert Glinwood, Velemir Ninkovic, Boban Andjelkovic, Andja Radonjic
Summary: The movement of the red flour beetle in stored products is mediated by food volatiles and other semiochemicals. The presence of 1-pentadecene showed an attractive effect on the beetles at low concentrations, but repelled them at higher concentrations.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Omar Ruiz-Rivero, Andres Garcia-Lor, Borja Rojas-Panadero, Jose Carlos Franco, Fathiya M. Khamis, Kerstin Kruger, Dina Cifuentes, Pablo Bielza, Alejandro Tena, Alberto Urbaneja, Meritxell Perez-Hedo
Summary: The African citrus psyllid Trioza erytreae is a major threat to the citrus industry as a vector of the incurable disease known as huanglongbing (HLB) or citrus greening. Research suggests that the outbreaks of T. erytreae in the Iberian Peninsula may have originated from the Canary Islands, while populations that invaded Macaronesia and the Iberian Peninsula likely came from southern Africa. The study's results are expected to be crucial for tracking the spread of this invasive pest outside of Africa and optimizing contingency and eradication plans in newly invaded and free areas.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Velemir Ninkovic, Robert Glinwood, Ayse Gul Unlu, Suresh Ganji, C. Rikard Unelius
Summary: Methyl salicylate (MeSA) as a volatile compound acts as an inducer of plant defense against pathogens and certain herbivores, particularly aphids. Exposing plants to MeSA reduced aphid settling and altered their preference for plant odor. MeSA exposure induced resistance factors in barley plants against bird cherry-oat aphid, highlighting its potential for aphid pest management.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Given Matseketsa, Kerstin Kruger, Edson Gandiwa
Summary: Nature conservation relies on rule adherence, but non-compliance with regulations poses a threat to protected areas. This review examines illegal biological resource-use in terrestrial protected areas of sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the drivers behind deviant behavior and strategies to deter illegal activities. The study finds that poaching activity is the most common criminal behavior, with poverty being the primary driver of non-compliance, particularly in illegal bushmeat hunting. Additionally, resentment towards protected areas due to destructive wildlife behavior is a significant motivation. A combination of law enforcement and non-enforcement approaches is deployed to deter offenders. The review highlights the need for future studies to address the multidimensionality of PA transgression and explore other drivers of illegal activities for evidence-based conservation intervention design.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Birhanu Sisay, Subramanian Sevgan, Christopher W. Weldon, Kerstin Kruger, Baldwyn Torto, Amanuel Tamiru
Summary: This study found that olfaction plays a crucial role in the host selection process of the fall armyworm. The moths showed a strong preference for maize, sorghum, and wheat for oviposition, while cowpea was the least preferred. The identification of terpenes as potential attractants provides valuable insights for the management of this pest.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Khethani Vincent Mawela, Rami Kfir, Kerstin Kruger
Summary: The study investigated the potential of Trichogrammatoidea lutea as a biological control agent of Helicoverpa armigera by examining its longevity, daily parasitism, fecundity, number of progeny per egg and sex ratio with regard to maternal age in laboratory conditions. The research found that T. lutea exhibited a female-biased sex ratio during the first few days and a male-biased ratio from day 4 to day 14, with a overall sex ratio of approximately 1:1. The findings suggest that T. lutea has great potential as a biological control agent for H. armigera.
BULLETIN OF INSECTOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jacquie E. van der Waals, Kerstin Kruger
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kerstin Kruger, Jacquie E. van der Waals
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Beatrix Coetzee, Nicoleen Douglas-Smit, Hans J. Maree, Johan T. Burger, Kerstin Kruger, Gerhard Pietersen
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lezel Beetge, Kerstin Kruger
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2019)