Potential factors in resistance of cherry trees (Prunus spp.) to Myzus cerasi F. (Hom., Aphididae)

• Published in: Zeitschrift für Angewandte Entomologie Vol. 108; no. 1
• Main Author: Gruppe, A. (Giessen Univ. (Germany, F.R.). Inst. fuer Phytopathologische und Angewandte Zoologie)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: 1989
• Subjects: ACIDE AMINE; AMINOACIDOS; Aminosaeure; Aphididae; Gehalt; Homoptera; MYZUS; Myzus cerasi; PRUNUS AVIUM; PRUNUS CERASUS; RESISTANCE AUX RAVAGEURS; RESISTENCIA A LAS PLAGAS; Resistenz; Steinobst
• ISSN: 0044-2240

The black cherry aphid Myzus cerasi Fabricius, 1775 occurs in Central Europe. It is divided in three subspecies, two of them are host alternating. M. c. cerasi lives on Prunus cerasus as its primary host and different species of the genera Galium and Veronica as secondary hosts, whereas M. c. pruniavium Boerner, 1926 lives on Prunus avium as its primary host, but on the same secondary host plants as the former. The amino acid concentrations in crude leaf extracts of the two cherry species and in the stomach of specimen of M. c. cerasi, which fed on these hosts, were analysed. There was no significant difference in the concentration of total amino acids but on the level of molar composition. Asparagine was found to be the dominant amino acid, reaching about 52 per cent of the total in P. cerasus. The corresponding value in P. avium was significantly lower (28 per cent). The content of other amino acids was higher in P. avium compared to P. cerasus. These results are discussed with respect to the nutritional quality as a possible reason for the differentiation of species. Analysis of phloem sap needs high technical input due to the difficulty to get pure phloem sap. The investigation via stomach ingredients is discussed under this aspect. It is easy to dissect aphids to separate the alimentary tract, respectively the stomach. Thus the method can be used universally with every species. The only necessity is a sensitive analytical technique, such as HPLC, but this becomes more and more common in physiological laboratories