Effect of Leaf Pubescence in Wheat on the Bird Cherry Oat Aphid (Homoptera: Aphidae)1

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Abstract
In direct comparisons of preference, the pubescent-leaved wheat cultivar ‘Vel’ attracted a statistically significantly lower number of Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) than did the glabrous-leaved ‘Arthur’ wheat. Rates of aphid population increase were also significantly lower on ‘Vel’ than on ‘Arthur.’ Comparable results were obtained using the pubescent-leaved cv. ‘Downy’ and the glabrous-leaved ‘Abe.’ Aphid behavior was also affected by leaf pubescence. On ‘Arthur’ their movements were rapid and fluid, and probing normally occurred within 5 to 10 sec. However, on ‘Vel,’ their movements were slow and awkward; they appeared “restless” and often left the plant without probing. R. Padi is an important vector of the barley yellow dwarf virus. This leaf pubescence of common wheat provides a potentially valuable resistance to R. Padi which may contribute to control of the virus disease.

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