The Effect of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus on the Biology of Its Vector the English Grain Aphid, Macrosiphum granarium12

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Abstract
The effect of the barley yellow dwarf virus on the biology of its vector, the English grain aphid, Macrosiphum granariiun (Kirby), was investigated. oxygen consumption of viruliferous and nonviruliferous aphids was measured with a Warburg respirometer. A comparison of the results indicated a reduction of 13.8% in the oxygen consumption of the viruliferous insects. The alteration in the metabolism of the infected individuals was apparent in their life histories. Longevity reproduction observations were conducted with 3 experimental populations. One group (NV-NV) consisted of nonviruliferous aphids that fed on virus-free leaves. A second group of aphids (V-V) was maintained exclusively on leaves from virus-infested plants. The nutritional factor was minimized by the third group of insects (V-NV) that was fed for 48 hr on virus-infected leaves and then reared on virus-free material. The 2 groups of viruliferous aphids tended to (1) have an increased rate of development from birth to adult, (2) live longer, (3) have a longer reproductive period, and (4) therefore produce greater total numbers of progeny. The observed differences are considered as evidence of an active biological interaction between the virus and its vector, which is difficult to classify as either beneficial or pathological.

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