Increased Production of Alatae by Aphids1 Reared on Oats Infected with Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus

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Abstract
Morphological development of parthenogenetic viviparous Sitobion avenae (F.) and Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphidae) was influenced by the condition of a host plant, Avena byzantina (Koch). Aphids reared on oats infected with various isolates of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) were much more likely to mature as winged adults (alatae), than were aphids reared on healthy oats. In 15 experiments during a 2-yr period, 75% of 2670 aphids reared on BYDV-infected oats developed as alatae; 36% of 2470 reared in parallel on healthy oats developed as alate forms. A greater percentage of winged progeny was consistently produced on infected oats in all experiments, regardless of aphid species, morphology of parent aphid, or the BYDV isolate used. Results of one experiment indicated that BYDV-infected plants could influence aphids during 1st instar development to mature as alatae. Alatae production was also favored by senescing oat tissues. Differences in nitrogen metabolism, resulting in increased amino acid concentration in diseased or senescing plants, could explain increased alatae production. The possible importance of these observations in spread of plant luteoviruses by aphids is discussed.

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