The response of the bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), to Barley yellow dwarf luteovirus (BYDV)-infected versus healthy transgenic and untransformed wheat plants was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Bioassays were conducted on three winter wheat genotypes, including virus-susceptible Lambert, virus tolerant Caldwell, and a transgenic line containing the barley yellow dwarf virus coat protein gene. The transgenic line exhibits low virus titer. Significantly more aphids settled onto virus-infected untransformed plants of Lambert and Caldwell than healthy plants when aphids contacted the leaves. Significantly more aphids congregated on screening above headspace of Lambert and Caldwell infected with BYDV than on screening above healthy plants. This screening prevented contact with the leaves. In contrast, no significant differences in R. padi preference for headspace above plants were found between BYDV-infected and healthy plants of the transgenic line 103.1J. The overall concentration of volatiles extractable from whole plant headspace was greater on BYDV-infected Lambert, compared to healthy plants, or compared to volatiles extractable from headspace of 103.1J plants infected with BYDV or healthy. These findings indicate that transgenic virus resistance in wheat plants can indirectly influence the production of volatiles, making the plants less attractive or less arrestant to aphids than are virus-infected untransformed plants.
Species 1: Homoptera Aphididae Rhopalosiphum padi (Bird cherry-oat aphid)
Keywords: Barley yellow dwarf luteovirus, insect vector
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