Plant pathogen effects on Hemipteran Settling Behavior
Date
2022
Authors
Irvine, Jeremy
Romero, Berenice
Prager, Sean
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Poster Presentation
Degree Level
Abstract
Plants in agricultural systems are often subject to many harmful pathogens, including fungal and bacterial diseases, viruses, and mollicutes. Once a plant senses a stressor, many will begin to produce various secondary metabolites such as phytoalexins which can alter the plant’s
physiological state. In previous work, it has been established that these compounds’ presence can affect the feeding behaviour of herbivorous species. Past studies have shown that plants
infected with a pathogen can have decreased levels of amino acids and sugar compounds when compared to uninfected plants, which can consequently contribute to decreased insect
attraction to infected plants. Aster Yellows Phytoplasma (AYP) is a mollicute that infects a very wide variety of hosts, many of which are important to the agricultural sector in Canada. Research into the pathosystem involving AYP, insect vectors, and the host plant is needed
to understand to what degree infected plants might influence insect behaviour and disease
dynamics. This study used healthy Canola plants (Brassica napus) along with plants infected with Aster Yellows Phytoplasma in no-choice and two-choice bioassays to evaluate the effects of pathogen infection has on vector settling behaviour, developmental time, rate of
oviposition, and probing activity. This same process will be repeated with Cucumber Mosaic
Virus and Turnip Mosaic Virus to determine if a viral infection will result in similar effects.
Description
Keywords
plant pathogens, canola