Effect of various host-plants on the population growth and development of the pea aphid

Abstract

The performance of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Homoptera: Aphididae) was studied on several Fabaceae species including: pea (Pisum sativum), broad bean (Vicia faba), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and red clover (Trifolium pratense). Alfalfa, bean and red clover were less accepted by the pea aphid than pea and broad bean. The pea aphid fed on the alfalfa, bean and red clover showed longer pre-reproductive, and shorter reproductive and post-reproductive periods. Alfalfa, bean and red clover also shortened and decreased fecundity of the pea aphid. Mean survival of the pea aphids fed on red clover and bean plants was reduced in comparison to pea aphid fed on pea and broad bean. The other studied population parameters: intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm), net reproduction (R0) and mean generation time were also reduced in the case of the pea aphid on alfalfa, red clover and bean. The study of aphid development and reproduction demonstrated that pea and broad bean are suitable host plants for A. pisum while alfalfa, red clover and bean are not. It is likely that the rejection of alfalfa, red clover and bean by A. pisum was caused by chemical factors in these hosts.