Polyphenol

Demography

Aphididae

Biology

Ingestion

Rutin

PEST analysis

Biochemistry

Acyrthosiphon pisum

Botany

Food science

Aphid

Toxicology

Antioxidant

Population

Sociology

Flavonoid

Flavanone

Naringenin

Homoptera

Quercetin

Fecundity

Journal of Pest Science

The effects of two polyphenolic flavonoids (flavanone naringenin and flavonol quercetin) on development, fecundity, and mortality of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Hemiptera: Aphididae), were determined in vitro, on an artificial diets. Also determined in vitro (DC EPG method), on sucrose–agarose gels, were the effects of flavonoids on the probing and feeding behavior of adult apterae. When added to a liquid diet, higher concentrations of studied flavonoids increased the developmental time, the pre-reproductive period, and mortality and decreased fecundity and the intrinsic rate of natural increase of A. pisum. In most events associated with stylet activity (as indicated by EPG waveform g-C), differences in probing behavior did not statistically differ between the control gel and those with flavonoids; quercetin at 10, 100, and 1,000 µg cm−3 prolonged the number of gel penetrations; and quercetin only at 10,000 μg cm−3 prolonged the time the first g-C waveform was observed. Addition of flavonoids to the gels generally reduced passive ingestion from fluids of the gels (EPG waveform g-E2). At higher concentrations (>1,000 µg cm−3) the flavonoids completely stopped salivation (EPG waveform g-E1) and passive ingestion from fluids of the gels (EPG waveform g-E2). In events associated with active ingestion (EPG waveform g-G), however, differences in feeding behavior did not statistically differ between the control gel and those with flavonoids. The present findings demonstrate detrimental effects of the flavanone naringenin and flavonol on the behavior of the pea aphid. This can be employed in a biotechnological projects for plant breeding resistant to herbivores, including aphids.

Are naringenin and quercetin useful chemicals in pest-management strategies?