Effect of Different Host Plants on Some Biological and Physiological Parameters of Cowpea Aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch Under Certain Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

The medicinal and aromatic plants are considered one of the most important untraditional agricultural commodities which can be used as a base for Egyptian markets. Therefore, the present studies were carried out on 5 medicinal and aromatic crops at Assiut Governorate during two consecutive growing seasons of 2011-2013 at Shotb district and Abnoub district. Various biological parameters of Aphis craccivora Koch were studied on coriander and henna host plants, in addition to bean, as a primer host. Other host plants showed high mortality rates for aphids when it was reared on. As for the survival percentage of A. craccivora on the three cultivars, the highest percentage was recorded on henna plants, followed by coriander and bean plants. A. craccivora adult’s longevity extended when reared on henna host plants, adults who reared on coriander had the highest number of offspring, followed by henna then bean host plants. The survival rates of total nymphal stages were the highest when reared on the henna host plant, while the lowest was recorded on the bean. Different host plants in the 2nd generation seemed to be less effective on the pest’s life table parameters. Superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) activity, Catalase (CAT) activity, Protein, lipids and carbohydrates content were significantly affected by different host plants. As for the digestive enzymes, the activities of α-amylase and lipase enzymes were not affected with different host plants.