The Control Efficiency of Plant Alcohol Extracts on the Laboratory Populations of Myzus persicae(Sulzer)and Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach)

The effects of semiochemicals extracted from 63 species of plants, on peach aphid (Myzus per-sicae) and mustard aphid (Lipaphis erysimi), were studied in laboratory. The deterrent rate, reproduction deterrent index and the interferential index of population control (IIPC) was used to evaluate the efficiency of semiochemicals on population control of the two target aphids. The results showed that the extracts of 34 species of common plants have noticeable effect on both aphid populations, especially, Xanthium sibiricum Petr. Et Widd. and Syngonium podophyllum Schott. These plant extracts could be used to construct the plant pro-tectant to protect crops.

QPSO-optimized BP Neural Network to Predict Occurrence Quantity of Myzus persicae

In order to effectively predict occurrence quantity of Myzus persicae, BP neural network theory and method was used to establish prediction model for oc- currence quantity of M. persicae. Meanwhile, QPSO algorithm was used to optimize connection weight and threshold value of BP neural network, so as to determine. the optimal connection weight and threshold value. The historical data of M. persica quantity in Hongta County, Yuxi City of Yunnan Province from 2003 to 2006 was adopted as training samples, and the occurrence quantities of M. persicae from 2007 to 2009 were predicted. The prediction accuracy was 99.35%, the mini- mum completion time was 30 s, the average completion time was 34.5 s, and the running times were 19. The prediction effect of the model was obviously superior to other prediction models. The experiment showed that this model was more effective and feasible, with faster convergence rate and stronger stability, and could solve the similar problems in prediction and clustering. The study provides a theoretical basis for comprehensive prevention and control against M. persicae.

Effects of 5% Imidacloprid Oil in Preventing Myzus persicae in Different Test Sites

In the research, 5% imidacloprid oil at different doses were applied to prevent Myzus persicae in order to explore significance analysis in 3, 7, 14, and 20 d, respectively, in three fields, and the results showed that 5% imidacloprid oil per- formed significant for K326, G28 and Yunyan-87, suggesting 5% imidacloprid oil is effective in controlling Myzus persicae.

Quantitative assessment of the infection rate of the entomophthoraceous fungus, Zoophthora anhuiensis against the green peach aphid Myzus persicae

A two-step method was developed to quantitatively assess the infection rate of the entomophthoraceous fungus, Zoophthora anhuiensis (Li) Humber, on the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) .Firstly, a standard time-dose-mortality relationship, established by modeling data from bioassay 1 at varying conidial dosages (0.4- 10.4 conidia/mm^2) of Z. anhuiensis F97028, was used to yield an estimate of expected mortality probability at a given dosage. Secondly, bioassay 2 was conducted by simultaneously exposing six ≤4-day-old nymphal colonies to a shower of Z. anhuiensis conidia at each of four dosages (resulting from exposures of 0.3 - 8.0 min) . Subsequently, the colonies were separately immersed in a 0.1% chlorothalonil solution for 0.5 min to disinfect all surviving conidia on the host integument from 1 - 12 h after exposure under temperature treatments of 15 and 20℃, respectively. The infection rate during a specific period from the end of the exposure to the immersion was then estimated as the ratio of the observed mortality over the expected mortality probability at a particular dosage. The results showed that the infection of M. persicae from Z. anhuiensis was highly rapid with little difference between aphid colonies maintained at 15 and 20℃ before being immersed in the fungicidal solution after exposure. The first 6-hour period after exposure was most crucial to successful infection of the fungus with the infection rate greatly depending on conidial dosages. It took ≤ 1 h to infect > 50% of the aphids at a dosage of > 1.5 conida/mm^2 and > 90% at > 50 conidia/mm^2 .

Improvement of Markov Chain Model for Occurrence Degree Prediction of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Its Application

For long-term prediction of occurrence degree of tobacco aphid Myzus persicae （Sulzer）, Markov chain method was used to establish prediction model for occurrence degree of tobacco aphid. With 4 levels of occurrence degree, Markov chain model was established based on the data in 1987-2004. The results indicated that the accuracy for total prediction in 2005-2007 and the back prediction in 1987-2004 reached 88.89% and 85.12%, respectively. The method is simple and feasible for long-term prediction of occurrence degree of tobacco aphid.

Occurrence Regularity of Myzus persicae and Aphid- transmitted Virus Disease in Zhenyuan County of Guizhou

[ Objective] The paper provided a reference for establishment of effective prevention mechanism against aphids in Zhenyuan tobacco area. [ Melllod ] The initial population quantity of aphids in early spring, migration of winged aphids, occurrence regularity and damage status of Myzus persicae and aphid-transmit- ted virus （PVY ＋ CMV） were investigated in Zhenyuan County from 2014 to 2015 using 10-point checkerboard sampling method, yellow dish trapping method and 5-point sampling method. [ Result] The total amount of aphids in Brassica campestris was the largest among overwintering hosts, with an average of 18.44 speci- men/plant. The migration of winged aphids presented bimedal pattern; the population dynamics of wingless aphids presented unimodal pattern, and the occurrence peak was from May to June. [ Conclusion] Field control against M. persicae in tobacco fields should be conducted from mid May to early June.

Prevention and Control Effects of Aphidius gifuensis against Myzus persicae in Shuicheng

The prevention and control effects of Aphidius gifuensis against Myzus persicae in four major tobacco planting villages and towns in Shuicheng County were investigated from 2015 to 2016. The results showed that the parasitic rate of M. persicae before A. gifuensis release was 0. 85% in field,and that at 20 d after A. gifuensis release was 59. 49%. The incidence rate of aphid-transmitted virus disease was controlled at 0. 62%. The release of A. gifuensis increased its natural population quantity in field,and had obvious direct control effects against M. persicae. Meantime,it indirectly controlled the occurrence of aphid-transmitted virus disease to some extent.

Plants affect the horizontal transmission of a new densovirus infecting the green peach aphid Myzus persicae by modulating honeydew production

In a tritrophic context of plant-insect-entomopathogen,plants play important roles in modulating the interaction of insects and their pathogenic viruses.Currently,the influence of plants on the transmission of insect viruses has been mainly studied on baculoviruses and some RNA viruses,whereas the impact of plants on other insect viruses is largely unknown.Here,we identified a new densovirus infecting the green peach aphid Myzus persicae and tested whether and how host plants influence the transmission of the aphid densovirus.The complete single-stranded DNA genome of the virus,M.persicae densovirus 2,is 5727 nt and contains inverted terminal repeats.Transcription and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the virus was distinct from other a few identified aphid densoviruses.The virus abundance was detected highly in the intestinal tract of aphids,compared with the lower level of it in other tissues including head,embryo,and epidermis.Cabbage and pepper plants had no obvious effect on the vertical transmission and saliva-mediated horizontal transmission of the virus.However,the honeydew-mediated horizontal transmission among aphids highly depended on host plants(65%on cabbages versus 17%on peppers).Although the virus concentration in the honeydew produced by aphids between 2 plants was similar,the honeydew production of the infected aphids reared on peppers was dramatically reduced.Taken together,our results provide evidence that plants influence the horizontal transmission of a new densovirus in an aphid population by modulating honeydew secretion of aphids,suggesting plants may manipulate the spread of an aphid-pathogenic densovirus in nature.

Evaluation of the reference genes for expression analysis using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae Sulzer （Hemiptera, Aphididae）, is an important cosmopolitan pest. Real time qRT-PCR has been used for target gene expression analysis on M. persicae. Using real time qRT-PCR, the expression levels are normalized on the basis of the reliable reference genes. However, to date, the stability of available reference genes has been insufficient. In this study, we evaluated nine candidate reference genes from M. persicae under diverse experimental conditions. The tested candidate genes were comprehensively ranked based on five alternative methods （RefFinder, geNorm, Normfinder, BestKeeper and the comparative ACt method）. 18s, Actin and ribosomal protein L27 （L27） were recommended as the most stable reference genes for M. persicae, whereas ribosomal protein L27 （L27） was found to be the least stable reference genes for abiotic studies （photoperiod, temperature and insecticide susceptibility）. Our finding not only sheds light on establishing an accurate and reliable normalization of real time qRT-PCR data in M. persicae but also lays a solid foundation for further studies of M. persicae involving RNA interference and functional gene research.

Efficacy and biosafety assessment of neuropeptide CAPA analogues against the peach-potato aphid (Myzus persicae)

Insect CAPA neuropeptidesare considered to affect water and ion balance by mediating the physiological metabolism activities of the Malpighian tubules.In previous studies,the CAPA-PK analogue 1895(2Abf-Suc-FGPRLamide)was reported to decrease aphid fitness when administered through microinjection or via topical application.However,a further statistically significant decrease in the fitness of aphids and an increased mortality could not be established with pairwise combinations of 1895 with other CAPA analogue.In this study,we assessed the topical application of new combinations of 1895 with five CAPA-PVK analogues on the fitness of aphids.We found that 1895 and CAPA-PVK analogue 2315(ASG-[β3L]-VAFPRVamide)was statistically the most effective combination to control the peach potato aphid Myzus persicae nymphs via topical application,leading to 72%mortality.Additionally,the combination(1895+2315)was evaluated against a selection of beneficial insects,that is,a pollinator(Bombus terrestris)and three natural enemies(Chrysoperla carnea,Nasonia vitripennis,and Adalia bipunctata).We found no significant influence on food intake,weight increase,and survival for the pollinator and the three representative natural enemies.These results could facilitate to further establish and generate CAPA analogues as alternatives to broad spectrum and less friendly insecticides.

五种杀虫剂蘸根处理对烟蚜的防治效果

为了寻找投入低廉、简单高效的施药方式,采用盆栽试验和大田试验研究了烟苗移栽时用吡虫啉等农药蘸根处理对烟蚜[Myzus persicae(Sulzer)]的防治效果及对烟株生长发育的影响。结果表明,盆栽移栽时用吡虫啉、噻虫嗪、噻虫胺、呋虫胺、吡蚜酮蘸根处理,药后50 d内对烟蚜的防治效果均在97.84%以上;大田试验移栽时用吡虫啉等农药蘸根处理,持效期可达50 d,50 d内防效为20.41%~100.00%;移栽时用吡虫啉等农药蘸根处理,对大田烟草生长发育没有影响。5种杀虫剂可以通过蘸根的方式在烟草种植中使用。

A Method for Mass-rearing Aphidius gifuensis(Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae)

[Objective] This study presents a method for mass rearing of Aphidius gifuensis, a dominant endoparasitoid of Myzus persicae on tobacco in Southwest China. [Method] The tobacco cultivar Honghuadajinyuan(Nicotiana tabacum) was used as the host plant and M. persicae was the host insect. In a greenhouse, tobacco seedlings were reared in plastic trays. The seedlings at three-true-leaf stage were inoculated with two to three aphids per plant using aphid source with a parasitism rate of 47% ±3.9%. [Result] By this inoculation method, the aphids and parasites were simultaneously inoculated on host plants. After approximately 25 d of rearing, we were able to produce 82.5±5.17 aphid mummies per tobacco seedling. A total of 445 500 aphid mummies were produced in one greenhouse(36 rearing trays per greenhouse) during an approximately 50-day rearing period. The emergence rate was 93.4% ±2.76%, and 54% of the mummies were females. [Conclusion] The demonstrated technological feasibility of using tobacco seedlings for the mass rearing of A. gifuensis increases the potential for the biological control of M. persicae.

Essential Oils from the Leaves and Flowers of Callistemon viminalis:Chemical Characterization and Evaluation of the Insecticide and Antifungal Activities

The chemical compositions of the essential oils from the leaves and flowers of Callistemon viminalis and their insecticide and fungitoxic activities were determined. The essential oil was extracted by the hydrodistillation method using a modified Clevenger apparatus. The chemical characterization was performed by GC-MS and GC-FID. The evaluation of the insecticidal activity was performed with the Myzus persicae aphid, and the antifungal potential was determined via the inhibition of the mycelial growth of Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysorum and Botrytis cinérea phytopathogenic fungi. The principal components of the essential oils from the leaves and flowers were eucalyptol (84.60% and 61.47%), α-pinene (10.28% and 21.48%) and α-terpineol (2.59% and 2.79%), respectively. The use of a 0.5% concentration of the essential oil from the flowers influenced the preference of aphids and their reproduction. The number of adult aphids decreased within a period of 48 hours in the presence of the essential oil from the leaves. In the test with no chance of choice, the mean number of adults decreased with both oils within 48 hours. No inhibition of the mycelial growth of the A. alternate microorganism was observed in any of the treatments with the two essential oils. However, the growth of F. oxysporum and B. cinerea fungi was inhibited. The mycelial growth of F. oxysporum was inhibited with the concentration of 100 μL·Lˉ1 of the oil from the flowers and 250 μL·Lˉ1 of the oil from the leaves. The inhibition of the growth of B. cinerea was observed at concentrations of 500 and 100 μL·Lˉ1 for the oils from the flowers and leaves, respectively. The essential oils presented insecticidal and antifungal potentials. However, further studies are needed for these oils to be used in integrated pest management.

STUDIES ON SELECTIVE TOXICITY OF SIX INSECTICIDES BETWEEN GREEN PEACH APHID AND LADYBIRDS

The selective toxicity of six kinds of insecticides, including imidacloprid, imidacloprid+synergist (SV1), fenvalerate, endosulfan, methomyl and dimethoate, between the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae Sulzer) and two species of ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus and Propylaea japonica Thunbery), was investigated in the laboratory. The results showed that both imidacloprid WP and imidacloprid+synergist (SV1) EC possessed the highest toxicity to the aphids. Between C. septempunctata and M. persicae and between P. japonica and M. persicae, the selective toxicity ratios (STRs) of imidacloprid WP, imidacloprid+ synergist (SV1) EC and endosulfan EC were 37.6 and 13.0, 9.84 and 7.75, 54.0 and 7.28 respectively. All of them showed rather high selective toxicity. The STRs of fenvalerate EC, dimethoate EC and methomyl EC were all very low, ranging from 0.02 to 0.21, indicating their low degree of safety to the two species of ladybirds. The results demonstrated that imidacloprid WP and imidacloprid+SV1 EC not only had rather high toxicity to the aphids, but also reduced strikingly the reproduction rate and fecundity of the survival aphids. Insecticides can induce the relative fitness of insects decrease. Among the six insecticides tested with M. persicae, the following were insecticides and the order of induction was: imidacloprid + SV1> imidacloprid > endosulfan > methomyl > fenvalerate > dimethoate.

Olfactory responses of Aphidius gifuensis to odors of host plants and aphid-plant complexes

The olfactory responses ofAphidius gifuensis to odors from two host plants （Nicotiana tabacum and Brassica napus ssp.） and their complexes with different infestation levels of two host aphids （Myzuspersicae and Lipaphis erysimi） were respectively examined in an olfactometer. The results showed that female A. gifuensis did not respond to odors of undamaged or mechanically damaged host plants, but significantly responded to odors of aphid/plant complexes. Moreover, A. gifuensis responded significantly to odors of both M. persicae and L. erysimi/plant complexes when host plants were infested by high levels of aphids, suggesting that quantity of aphid-induced volatiles could be important for attracting A. gifuensis. When tested between aphid/plant complexes, .4. gifuensis did not show its preference for either complex. The efficiency of.4. gifuensis against aphids in open fields potentially could be improved by using its olfactory response to aphid/plant complexes.

Expressing an (E)-β-farnesene synthase in the chloroplast of tobacco affects the preference of green peach aphid and its parasitoid

(E)-b-Farnesene (EbF) synthase catalyses the production of EbF, which for many aphids is the main or only component of the alarm pheromone causing the repellence of aphids and also functions as a kairomone for aphids’ natural enemies. Many plants possess EbF synthase genes and can release EbF to repel aphids. In order to effectively recruit the plant-derived EbF synthase genes for aphid control, by using chloroplast transit peptide (CTP) of the small subunit of Rubisco (rbcS) from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), we targeted AabFS1, an EbF synthase gene from sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua L.), to the chloroplast of tobacco to generate CTP t AabFS1 transgenic lines. The CTP t AabFS1 transgenic tobacco plants could emit EbF at a level up to 19.25 ng/day per g fresh tissues, 4–12 fold higher than the AabFS1 transgenic lines without chloroplast targeting. Furthermore, aphid/parasitoid behavioral bio-assays demonstrated that the CTP t AabFS1 transgenic tobacco showed enhanced repellence to green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) and attracted response of its parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae, thus affecting aphid infestation at two trophic levels. These data suggest that the chloroplast is an ideal subcellular compartment for metabolic engineering of plant-derived EbF synthase genes to generate a novel type of transgenic plant emitting an alarm pheromone for aphid control.

Effects of mummy consumption on fitness and oviposition site selection on Harmonia axyridis

Intraguild predation(IGP)has been commonly reported between predators and parasitoids used as biological control agents as predators consuming parasitoids within their hosts.However,the effect of parasitoid-mummy consumption on the fitness of the predator and subsequent oviposition site selection have not been well studied.In our study,we conducted two laboratory experiments to examine the influence of Aphidius gifuen-sis Ashmead(Hymenoptera:Braconidae)mummies as prey on fitness and subsequently oviposition site selection of Harmonia axyridis(Pallas)(Coleoptera:Coccnellidae).Re-sults indicate that when H.aryridis was reared on A.gifiuensis mummies only,its larval development was prolonged,and body weight of the 4th instar larvae and newly emerged adults,and fecundity decreased.Moreover,H.axyridis did not exhibit oviposition pref-erence on plants infested with unparasitized aphids or aphids parasitized for shorter than 9 days.However,compared with plants with mummies(parasitized≥9 days),H.axryridis laid more eggs on plants with unparasitized aphids.In contrast,H.axryridis previously fed with A.gifuensis mummies did not show a significant oviposition preference between plants with unparasitized aphids and those with mummies(parasitized≥9 days).Overall,our results suggest that mummy consumption reduced the fitness of H.axyridis.Although H.axyridis avoided laying eggs on plants with A.gifuensis mummies,prior feeding ex-perience on A.gifuensis mummies could alter the oviposition site preference.Thus,in biological control practice,prior feeding experience of H.axyridis should be carflly considered for reduction of IGP and increase of fitness of H.axyridis on A.gifuensis.