Divergent effects of PVY-infected potato plant on aphids

Host plant selection by aphids can be positively or negatively affected when plants are infected by phytoviruses. Potato plants infected by Potato virus Y (PVY), a non-persistent virus, are reported to affect settling behaviour and growth parameters of Myzus persicae Sulzer and Macrosiphum euphorbiae Thomas. Using the Electrical penetration graph system (EPG), we demonstrated that PVY-infection of potato plants influences the feeding behaviour of these two aphid species. Myzus persicae exhibited increased phloem sap ingestion and reduced non-probing duration. Macrosiphum euphorbiae showed delayed stylet insertion, reduced activity in the phloem vessels and an enhanced non-probing duration. In addition, we showed that these two species exhibited different transmission rates. The opposite effects of PVY-infected potato plant on these two aphids are discussed in terms of PVY spreading in the field.     

Screening faba bean for chocolate spot resistance: evaluation methods and effects of age of host tissue and temperature

Chocolate spot is an important disease of faba bean (Vicia faba) caused by the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis fabae. The aims of this work were: i) to compare different methods of screening for resistance; ii) to assess the influence of the age of host tissue and temperature on this pathosystem. To this effect, a collection of 42 faba bean accessions was evaluated in mature plant stage in the field in Cordoba (Southern Spain) and in detached leaflet and whole plant tests under controlled conditions. Field results correlated better with those of the whole plant test than with those of the detached leaflet assay. Integration of results from the field and whole plant experiments resulted in the selection of six accessions of interest as sources of resistance. Influence of leaf age on disease development was found to be genotype dependent. Older leaves were more susceptible than younger ones in 23 accessions, while no difference between leaf ages was detected in the remaining accessions. The effects of plant age and temperature were assessed by a whole plant test on seven accessions at two plant ages (4 and 7 weeks) and three temperatures (13, 20, and 25°C). Results showed that the differential genotypic responses to B. fabae were not significantly influenced by either plant age or temperature, although there was a tendency towards lower susceptibility to chocolate spot in faba bean plants as they become older. Further, a partial high-temperature, young-plant resistance was detected.     

New aphid vectors and efficiency of transmission of Potato virus A and strains of Potato virus Y in the UK

The aphid‐transmitted viruses Potato virus Y (PVY) and Potato virus A (PVA) commonly affect seed potatoes in the UK. The transmission efficiency for aphid species is used to calculate a potential transmission risk and is expressed as a relative efficiency factor (REF). These REFs have not previously been calculated for UK strains of viruses or aphid clones. Using a previously published method, REFs have been calculated for the aphid species and viruses commonly occurring in UK potatoes. The efficiency of transmission of Myzus persicae is nominally set to a REF of 1 and REFs for other species are calculated relative to this. These data represent the first set of REFs calculated for PVA transmission. Macrosiphum euphorbiae (REF 0.91) was almost as efficient as M. persicae at PVA transmission. The data were further analysed to compare transmission rates of PVY and PVA using a binomial (logit) generalized mixed model to take into account the potential influence of variation in virus titre between leaves. This approach found that there is little variation between the efficiency of transmission between clones of each aphid species or between strains within a virus species. This is a first report that Aphis fabae, Metopolophium dirhodum, Sitobion avenae, Acyrthosiphon pisum and Cavariella aegopodii have the ability to vector PVA. This study also represents a first report that C. aegopodii has the ability to vector PVY and confirms the potential of S. avenae, A. fabae, M. euphorbiae and Rhopalosiphum padi as important PVY vectors.     

Solanum elaeagnifolium,a potential source of Potato virus Y (PVY) propagation*

In the context of an epidemiological study on Potato virus Y (PVY) in potato crops, Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. was included in the weeds prospected. Surveys were carried out in four seed potato areas: Cap Bon, Manouba, Jendouba and Kairouan. S. elaeagnifolium was found in all areas, except Cap Bon. Virus‐like symptoms were observed on some S. elaeagnifolium plants in the field, i.e. leaf mottling and curling. Aphids were collected on these plants and were identified as Myzus persicae and Aphis fabae, both known to colonize potatoes and to transmit the standard PVY^N isolate with transmission efficiencies of 95% and 43%, respectively. Forty‐seven plant samples were tested with ELISA for the presence of PVY. Positive reactions were obtained from 2/6, 5/18, 8/23 samples collected in Manouba, Jendouba and Kairouan, respectively. Virus transmission was carried out using M. persicae as vector from two samples of each region onto plantlets of Nicotiana tabacum cv Xanthi. All inoculated plantlets displayed typical symptoms of the PVY^N strain group, confirmed by serological testing using specific antibodies. This is the first report of a PVY natural infection on S. elaeagnifolium in Tunisia. The abundance of this weed, its over‐wintering status and the high rate of PVY‐infected plants (31.9%) allow us to deduce that S. elaeagnifolium must be considered a reservoir species of PVY under natural conditions in Tunisia and probably in other Mediterranean countries. The presence of efficient aphid vectors of PVY on this weed in crops is additional evidence that S. elaeagnifolium may become a problem by acting as a source plant for PVY spread in potato crops.     

Granular systemic insecticides for control of green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) and their effect on yield and quality of tobacco grown in riverside lankas

Abstract

Flue‐cured Virginia (f.c.v.) tobacco grown on deltaic islands or lankas in the Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh, India is subject to heavy infestations of green peach aphid, Myzus persicae Sulz. The relative efficacy of granular formulations of the systemic insecticides phorate, disulfoton, carbofuran, aldicarb and terbufos in controlling the aphid, and their effect on the yield and quality of lanka tobacco have been studied. Aldicarb granules at 1 g/plant and disulfoton at 2 g/plant were found to be the most effective in controlling the aphid, and also resulted in higher yields of green leaf, cured leaf and total bright leaf equivalent (an index of visual quality). Terbufos at 2 g/plant also gave good yields, but was slightly less effective in controlling aphid infestations. Carbofuran at 3 g/plant was the least effective. The chemical quality of f.c.v. tobacco was not affected by the application of granular insecticides to the soil.     

黄瓜花叶病毒和马铃薯Y病毒混合侵染烟株对烟蚜取食行为的影响

为探究黄瓜花叶病毒(Cucumber mosaic virus,CMV)、马铃薯Y病毒(Potato virus Y,PVY)混合侵染烟株对烟蚜取食行为的影响,利用刺探电位图谱(electrical penetration graph,EPG)技术记录了烟蚜在健康烟株与CMV、PVY混合侵染后不同发病级别烟株上的取食波形。结果显示:烟蚜在健康烟株上的刺探次数最少,在感病烟株上的C波总持续时间均显著长于健康烟株;第1次到达韧皮部前的刺探次数,健康植株上仅为4.00次,3级感病烟株上的为健康烟株上的2倍;在健康烟株上E2波总持续时间为120.65 min,极显著大于2级和3级感病烟株;刺探过程中,感病烟株上的pd波出现次数均高于健康烟株,且pd波II-1和II-3亚波的持续时间也显著高于健康烟株。研究表明,CMV、PVY混合侵染烟株可降低寄主对烟蚜的适合度,且能促进烟蚜对病毒的传播。     

Activation of defence in sweet pepper, Capsicum annum, by cis-jasmone, and its impact on aphid and aphid parasitoid behaviour

BACKGROUND: Two important pests of the sweet pepper, Capsicum annuum, are the peach potato aphid, Myzus persicae, and the glasshouse potato aphid, Aulacorthum solani. Current aphid control measures include the use of biological control agents, i.e. parasitic wasps, but with varying levels of success. One option to increase parasitoid efficiency is to activate plant defence. Therefore, sweet pepper plants were treated with the naturally occurring plant defence activator cis-jasmone, and its impact upon the behaviour and development of aphids and aphid parasitoids was investigated. RESULTS: Growth rate studies revealed that the intrinsic rate of population increase of A. solani and M. persicae on sweet pepper plants treated with cis-jasmone (cJSP) was not affected compared with untreated plants (UnSP), but the positive behavioural response of alate M. persicae towards the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from UnSP was eliminated by cis-jasmone treatment 48 h previously (cJSP48). In addition, the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi preferred VOCs from cJSP48 compared with UnSP, and a significant increase in foraging time was also observed on cJSP. Analysis of VOCs collected from cJSP48 revealed differences compared with UnSP. CONCLUSION: There is evidence that treatment with cis-jasmone has the potential to improve protection of sweet pepper against insect pests. © Crown copyright 2012. Reproduced with permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulation of damage in winter wheat caused by the grain aphid Sitobion avenae. 2. Construction and evaluation of a simulation model

To evaluate the relative importance of various components of damage caused by grain aphid (Sitobion avenae F.) populations in winter wheat, a simulation model of crop growth and development is combined with a model of aphid injury. The model applies to the time interval from flowering to ripeness which constitutes the main period of grain aphid immigration and development in winter wheat in the Netherlands. The crop model describes crop growth and development as a function of the prevailing weather and the available amount of soil nitrogen and consists of sink-source relations and distribution functions for carbohydrates and nitrogen. Injury byS. avenae affects crop growth both directly and indirectly. Direct effects on growth are due to aphid feeding. Indirect effects are caused by the aphid excretion product honeydew which affects leaf net carbon dioxide assimilation. Alternative hypotheses on the nature of the direct effects are formulated. Inputs to the model are average daily temperature, daily global radiation, the amount of nitrogen in the soil and the density of the aphid population. The major output is grain weight.The accuracy of the model is assessed by visual and statistical comparison to field data. The accuracy of both crop and damage model is satisfactory except for the final part of the growing season. Then, insufficient information on processes involved in leaf death and the termination of phloem transport to the grains results in overestimation of the rate of grain filling.The consequences of the lack of detailed information on the relation between environmental factors and the effect of honeydew on leaf carbon dioxide assimilation are assessed in a sensitivity analysis.     

Efficacy of plant metabolites of imidacloprid against Myzus persicae and Aphis gossypii (Homoptera: Aphididae)

The metabolism of the chloronicotinyl insecticide imidacloprid is strongly influenced by the method of application. Whilst in foliar application most of the residues on the leaf surface display unchanged parent compound, most of the imidacloprid administered to plants by soil application or seed treatment is metabolized more or less completely, depending on plant species and time. The present study revealed that certain metabolites of imidacloprid which have been described in crop plants are highly active against aphid pests in different types of bioassays. Some of these metabolites showed a high oral activity against the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), and the cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii). The aphicidal potency of the metabolites investigated was weaker in aphid dip tests than in oral ingestion bioassays using artificial double membranes. The most active plant metabolite was the imidazoline derivative of imidacloprid. The LC₅₀ values of this metabolite for M. persicae and A. gossypii in oral ingestion bioassays were in the lower ppb-range, i.e. 0·0044 and 0·0068 mg litre^-1, respectively. Most of the other reported metabolites showed much weaker activity. Compared to imidacloprid, the imidazoline derivative showed superior affinity to housefly (Musca domestica) head nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, while all other metabolites were less specific than imidacloprid. It seems possible that, after seed treatment or soil application, a few of the biologically active metabolites arising are acting in concert with remaining levels of the parent compound imidacloprid, thus providing good control and long-lasting residual activity against plant-sucking pests in certain crops. © 1998 SCI.     

Genetic engineering of plant volatile terpenoids: effects on a herbivore,a predator and a parasitoid

BACKGROUND: Most insect‐resistant transgenic crops employ toxins to control pests. A novel approach is to enhance the effectiveness of natural enemies by genetic engineering of the biosynthesis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Before the commercialisation of such transgenic plants can be pursued, detailed fundamental studies of their effects on herbivores and their natural enemies are necessary. The linalool/nerolidol synthase gene FaNES1 was constitutively expressed from strawberry in three Arabidopsis thaliana accessions, and the behaviour of the aphid Brevicoryne brassicae L., the parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae McIntosh and the predator Episyrphus balteatus de Geer was studied. RESULTS: Transgenic FaNES1‐expressing plants emitted (E)‐nerolidol and larger amounts of (E)‐DMNT and linalool. Brevicoryne brassicae was repelled by the transgenic lines of two of the accessions, whereas its performance was not affected. Diaeretiella rapae preferred aphid‐infested transgenic plants over aphid‐infested wild‐type plants for two of the accessions. In contrast, female E. balteatus predators did not differentiate between aphid‐infested transgenic or wild‐type plants. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the genetic engineering of plants to modify their emission of VOCs holds considerable promise for facilitating biological control of herbivores. Validation for crop plants is a necessary next step to assess the usefulness of modified volatile emission in integrated pest management. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Aphid transmissibility of different European beet polerovirus isolates

Different field isolates of the ‘beet poleroviruses’ Beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV) and Beet chlorosis virus (BChV) (genus Polerovirus, family Luteoviridae) collected in France and Poland were evaluated for transmissibility from and to sugar beet plants by different aphid species. In general, both BMYV and BChV were efficiently transmitted by Myzus persicae and by a French clone of Macrosiphum euphorbiae. In contrast, transmissibility of the two poleroviruses by an English clone of M. euphorbiae was evidently weaker, although the aphid samples contained the virus as demonstrated by RT-PCR. None of the BMYV or BChV isolates was transmitted by Aphis fabae or Myzus ascalonicus. In attempting to correlate biological properties with molecular variations, the RT proteins were sequenced. Some amino acid point variations, presumably affecting aphid transmissibility, were identified.     

Synergistic effect of imidacloprid combined with synergistic agents (Beichuang,Jiexiaoli) on Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Myzus persicae is a well known aphid pest, which can transport plant viruses to plants of the nightshade/potato family, namely the Solanaceae, and other food crops. Our aim was to explore the effects of imidacloprid combined with synergistic agents (Beichuang and Jiexiaoli) on Myzus persicae. Different concentrations of imidacloprid combined with synergistic agents were used to treat M. persicae. Biological activity of M. persicae was analyzed under indoor conditions, and the control efficiency of the admixture was determined through field experiments. The penetration rate of the admixture on tobacco leaf and M. persicae was analyzed, and the liquid surface tension and contact angle was measured. Imidacloprid combined with Beichuang and Jiexiaoli showed significant synergistic effects with high control efficacy. Beichuang and Jiexiaoli significantly improved the penetration of imidacloprid into the cuticle of tobacco leaves and the insect body wall. The surface tension and contact angles were abated by synergists. The combination of imidacloprid with Beichuang and Jiexiaoli showed a significant synergistic effect, which can be used for decreasing the dosage of imidacloprid and improving its long-term control efficacy.     

The effects of co‐infection by different Potato virus Y (PVY) isolates on virus concentration in solanaceous hosts and efficiency of transmission

The influence of co‐infection on concentration and accumulation of genetically different isolates of Potato virus Y (PVY) in potato and tobacco plants and the efficiency of transmission by Myzus persicae of PVY isolates from doubly versus singly infected plants were evaluated. The vector ability to simultaneously transmit two virus isolates was examined. Eight PVY isolates represented three strain groups: PVY^O (pathotype and serotype O), PVY^NW (pathotype N and serotype O), and PVY^NTN (pathotype and serotype N). Different diagnostic methods, including DAS‐ELISA, multiplex RT‐PCR, aphid transmission tests and bioassays, were applied to detect the presence of PVY isolates in source and assay plants. Significant reductions in concentrations of certain PVY isolates during co‐infection with other isolates were found both in potato and tobacco plants. The observed effects were both isolate‐ and host‐dependent in form. The highest rates of virus transmission by single aphids were recorded with PVY^NTN isolates, and the lowest ones with PVY^O isolates. Individual aphids of M. persicae were able to simultaneously transmit two PVY isolates. The frequency of transmission was generally low, but it reached as high as 20% for one of the isolate combinations. The findings presented in the work provide proof for antagonistic within‐plant interactions between isolates of PVY, with some implications of these interactions for virus transmission by aphid vectors. Consequently, this research contributes to a better understanding of the epidemiology of the disease caused by PVY.     

Screening Lactuca for resistance to Myzus persicae

A macrotest was developed to screen rapidly many genotypes ofLactuca in the greenhouse for resistance toMyzus persicae. In this test the estimated number of aphids on certain leaves of plants artificially exposed to aphid infestation was representative for the total number of aphids per plant. Significant differences in resistance between genotypes were observed and several partially resistant PIVT numbers were found among 645 accessions tested in 1973 and 1974. Also a microtest with leaf cages was developed in which biomass after seven to eight days of larval development and net larvae production during four to seven days functioned as criteria of resistance. Besides differences between genotypes, also within plants and between plants of the same genotype significant differences were found to occur. After testing nineteen genotypes with different levels of resistance it appeared that there was a clear relationship between results from both types of tests.     

A new aubergine disease caused by a whitefly‐borne strain of Tomato mild mottle virus (TomMMoV)

The aims of the present study were to further characterize the causal agent of a new viral disease of aubergines in Israel, first observed in 2003 and tentatively named eggplant mild leaf mottle virus (EMLMV) in a previous work, and to identify the vector responsible for its spread. The disease could be transmitted mechanically from infected source plants to healthy aubergines or laboratory test plants. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of purified virus preparations indicated the presence of viral particles with a flexible filamentous morphology (approximately 720 nm long). TEM analysis of ultrathin sections prepared from infected leaf tissue revealed the presence of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies with pinwheel and crystalline structures, typical of those induced by potyviral infection. The viral coat protein subunit was shown to have a molecular weight of 37·5 kDa by SDS‐PAGE analysis. The viral particles reacted positively in western blot analysis with an antiserum against Tomato mild mottle virus (TomMMoV) from Yemen, described as a potyvirus, vectored by the aphid Myzus persicae. The current study describes some biological properties of EMLMV and presents evidence for its transmission by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, but not by three aphid species. The taxonomic relationship between EMLMV and TomMMoV is discussed based on their biological characteristics and sequence analysis of their genomes. It is suggested that the Israeli EMLMV should be considered a distant strain of TomMMoV, designated TomMMoV‐IL, according to the present rules of Potyviridae molecular taxonomy.     

Virus transmission by aphids in potato crops

This paper reviews the contribution of vector activity and plant age to virus spread in potato crops. Determining which aphid species are vectors is particularly important for timing haulm destruction to minimize tuber infection by potato virus Y (PVY). Alate aphids of more than 30 species transmit PVY, and aphids such asRhopalosiphum padi, that migrate in large numbers before flights of the more efficient vector,Myzus persicae, appear to be important vectors. Differences in methodology, aphid biotypes and virus strains prevent direct comparisons between estimates of vector efficiencies obtained for aphids in different countries in north western Europe. M. persicae is also the most efficient vector of potato leafroll virus (PLRV), but some clones ofMacrosiphum euphorbiae transmit PLRV efficiently toNicotiana clevelandii and potato test plants. The removal of infected plants early in the season prevents the spread of PLRV in cool regions with limited vector activity. The proportion of aphids acquiring PLRV from infected potato plants decreases with plant age, and healthy potato plants are more resistant to infection later in the season. Severe symptoms of secondary leafroll developed on progeny plants of cv. Maris Piper derived from mother plants inoculated with PLRV in June or July of the previous year. Progeny plants derived from mother plants inoculated in August showed only mild symptoms, but the concentration of PLRV in these plants was as high as that in the plants with severe symptoms.     

感染马铃薯Y病毒烟株对烟蚜取食行为及烟蚜茧蜂适应性的影响

为探明烟蚜茧蜂Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead对烟蚜Myzus persicae(Sulzer)取食感染马铃薯Y病毒(Potato virus Y,PVY)烟株的适应性,利用刺探电位图谱(EPG)技术记录了烟蚜在感病烟株与健康烟株上的取食行为,并测定了烟蚜茧蜂对取食2种烟株烟蚜的寄生率以及烟蚜茧蜂的羽化率、发育时间及性比等指标。结果表明,与健康烟株相比,烟蚜在感染PVY烟株上的第1次刺探取食持续时间显著延长,且口针遇到阻力的次数(F波)和总持续时间均显著减少。烟蚜在感病烟株木质部的吸食时间(G波)显著长于健康烟株。感病烟株上烟蚜在韧皮部阶段的分泌唾液时间(E1波)较在健康烟株上显著缩短,而被动吸食汁液时间(E2波)显著延长。烟蚜茧蜂寄生取食感染PVY烟株的烟蚜,虽然能成功完成其生活史,但适应性与寄生取食健康烟株烟蚜的蚜茧蜂存在差异。在感染PVY烟株上,烟蚜茧蜂对烟蚜的寄生率为33.67%,显著低于对照的64.67%;且僵蚜体重明显下降,羽化的成蜂个体较小;成蜂存活时间1.48 d也极显著短于对照组的2.25 d。表明烟蚜茧蜂对取食感染PVY烟株烟蚜的适应性较低,PVY可通过烟蚜为介体间接降低烟蚜茧蜂的适应力。     

Comparison ofPotato Virus Y andPlum Pox Virus transmission by two aphid species in relation to their probing behavior

Two different aphid species,Myzus persicae (Sulzer) andHyalopterus pruni (Geoffroy) (Homoptera: Aphididae), were used to analyze their ability to transmit two different potyviruses,Potato virus Y (PVY) andPlum pox virus (PPV), to pepper (Capsicum annuum) andNicotiana benthamiana plants, respectively. In parallel experiments,M. persicae consistently transmitted both viruses with high efficiency, whereasH. pruni always failed to transmit either virus. This is in contrast to previous reports describingH. pruni as a vector of these potyviruses. Different aphid probing behavior among individual aphids of each species was obtained in electrical penetration graph (EPG) experiments performed on pepper plants. This suggested thatH. pruni did not transmit these potyviruses due to behavioral differences during probing that impeded virus acquisition and/or inoculation. It was found thatM. persicae usually makes its first probe within the first 2 min, whereasH. pruni individuals remained for more than 10 min on the plant before starting to probe. Furthermore,M. persicae individuals displayed their first intracellular puncture during the first minute of probing whereasH. pruni needed ∼ 15 min to penetrate the cell plasmalemma with their stylets. In addition, intracellular stylet punctures occurred very frequently forM. persicae but was a rare event, never exceeding a single one, forH. pruni. The relevance of these findings for the epidemiological spread of potyviruses by different aphid species is discussed. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 14, 2006.     

Using bioassays with the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) to determine residual activity of two systemically soil-applied neonicotinoid insecticides in field-grown tobacco

Duration of systemic pesticide activity under field conditions has wide implications for pest management. Our aim was to determine the duration of activity of systemic insecticides commonly used in cultivated tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) by measuring the levels of insect infestations on field plots and effects on reproduction and survival of the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) in controlled bioassays using field grown leaves. Plants were treated with different concentrations of two systemic neonicotinoid pesticides, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, and grown in small field plots. Our results show that these materials are effective under field conditions against aphids for at least 13 weeks after transplant. Pesticides also affected aphid reproduction and nymph survival in bioassays, although some aphids survived on pesticide-treated leaves. We also observed that leaf age affected aphid survival. We showed that neonicotinoids were very effective against M. persicae, aphids are a useful organism to assess pesticide efficacy early in the growing season, but plant characteristics are more important than pesticide concentration in the second half of the growing season.     

Plant resistance to aphid feeding: behavioral,physiological, genetic and molecular cues regulate aphid host selection and feeding

Aphids damage major world food and fiber crops through direct feeding and transmission of plant viruses. Fortunately, the development of many aphid‐resistant crop plants has provided both ecological and economic benefits to food production. Plant characters governing aphid host selection often dictate eventual plant resistance or susceptibility to aphid herbivory, and these phenotypic characters have been successfully used to map aphid resistance genes. Aphid resistance is often inherited as a dominant trait, but is also polygenic and inherited as recessive or incompletely dominant traits. Most aphid‐resistant cultivars exhibit constitutively expressed defenses, but some cultivars exhibit dramatic aphid‐induced responses, resulting in the overexpression of large ensembles of putative aphid resistance genes. Two aphid resistance genes have been cloned. Mi‐1.2, an NBS‐LRR gene from wild tomato, confers resistance to potato aphid and three Meloidogyne root‐knot nematode species, and Vat, an NBS‐LRR gene from melon, controls resistance to the cotton/melon aphid and to some viruses. Virulence to aphid resistance genes of plants occurs in 17 aphid species – more than half of all arthropod biotypes demonstrating virulence. The continual appearance of aphid virulence underscores the need to identify new sources of resistance of diverse sequence and function in order to delay or prevent biotype development. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry