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Do asexual morphs of the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae, utilise the aphid sex pheromone? Behavioural and electrophysiological responses of M. persicae virginoparae to (4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactone and its effect on aphid performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2013

G. Mandela Fernández-Grandon ,
Christine M. Woodcock  and
Guy M. Poppy
G. Mandela Fernández-Grandon*
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UK, SO17 1BJ
Christine M. Woodcock
Affiliation:
Centre for Sustainable Pest and Disease Management, Biological Chemistry Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK, AL5 2JQ
Guy M. Poppy
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UK, SO17 1BJ
*
*Author for correspondence Phone: +44 (0)20 7927 2655 E-mail: mandelagrandon@yahoo.co.uk
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Abstract

The aphid sex pheromone component (4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactone is considered to be a potential tool for enhancing biological control of aphids. Studies have confirmed its potential to attract parasitoids, increase parasitism rates in the field and also alter the spatial distribution of parasitoids. An important aspect that has been overlooked is the impact that the introduction of nepetalactone may have on aphid populations already present in field or glasshouse environments. The most prevalent pest aphid populations in glasshouse and field environments are the asexual morphs, which are capable of exponential growth if populations are not controlled. The short-term implications of the sex pheromone on asexual aphids were observed through their behavioural response. Using Y-tube olfactometry, it is shown that virginoparae of the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae, are repelled by high concentrations of nepetalactone. Long-term effects of the pheromone which may span the aphid's life, or even generations, were assessed via mean relative growth rate (MRGR) and the intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm). Electroantennography also demonstrated that asexual female aphids are able to detect aphid sex pheromone components. To our knowledge, this is the first time it has been reported that M. persicae virginoparae are able to detect aphid sex pheromone components or that their behavioural response and/or performance has been studied. The implications of these results and their significance in understanding semiochemical communication are discussed.

Keywords

Mean Relative Growth RateY-tube Olfactometer(4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactoneBiological ControlMyzus persicaeSemiochemical
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 103 , Issue 4 , August 2013 , pp. 466 - 472
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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