AUTHOR=Kang Zhi-Wei , Liu Fang-Hua , Tan Xiao-Ling , Zhang Zhan-Feng , Zhu Jing-Yun , Tian Hong-Gang , Liu Tong-Xian 

TITLE=Infection of Powdery Mildew Reduces the Fitness of Grain Aphids (Sitobion avenae) Through Restricted Nutrition and Induced Defense Response in Wheat

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2018.00778

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2018.00778

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>In natural ecological systems, plants are often simultaneously attacked by both insects and pathogens, which can affect each other’s performance and the interactions can be extended to higher trophic levels, such as parasitoids. The English grain aphid (<italic>Sitobion avenae</italic>) and powdery mildew (<italic>Blumeria graminis</italic> f. sp. <italic>tritici</italic>) are two common antagonists that pose a serious threat to wheat production. Numerous studies have investigated the effect of a single factor (insect or pathogen) on wheat production. However, investigation on the interactions among insect pests, pathogens, and parasitoids within the wheat crop system are rare. Furthermore, the influence of the fungicide, propiconazole, has been found to imitate the natural ecosystem. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of <italic>B. graminis</italic> on the biological performance of grain aphids and the orientation behavior of its endoparasitic wasp <italic>Aphidius gifuensis</italic> in the wheat system. Our findings indicated that <italic>B. graminis</italic> infection suppressed the feeding behavior, adult and nymph weight, and fecundity and prolonged the developmental time of <italic>S. avenae</italic>. We found that wheat host plants had decreased proportions of essential amino acids and higher content of sucrose following aggravated <italic>B. graminis</italic> infection. The contents of Pro and Gln increased in the wheat plant tissues after <italic>B. graminis</italic> infection. In addition, <italic>B. graminis</italic> infection elicited immune responses in wheat: increase in the expression of defense genes, content of total phenolic compounds, and activity of three related antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, co-infection of <italic>B. graminis and S. avenae</italic> increased the attraction to <italic>A. gifuensis</italic> compare to that after infestation with aphids alone. In conclusion, our results indicated that <italic>B. graminis</italic> infection adversely affected the performance of <italic>S. avenae</italic> in wheat through restricted nutrition and induced defense response. Furthermore, the preference of parasitoids in such an interactive environment might provide an important basis for pest management control.</p>