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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #367001
Research Project: New Tools for Managing Key Pests of Pecan and Peach

Location: Fruit and Tree Nut Research

Title: Pecan aphids, part III: A different approach to managing the black pecan aphid

Author
item Cottrell, Ted

Submitted to: Pecan South
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/8/2019
Publication Date: 9/1/2019
Citation: Cottrell, T.E. 2019. Pecan aphids, part III: A different approach to managing the black pecan aphid. Pecan South. (52)7:50-55.

Interpretive Summary: This third and final part of the series on pecan aphids focuses on the unique feeding biology of the black pecan aphid. Elicitation of chlorotic feeding zones is important for normal development of the black pecan aphid. It is apparent that pecan cultivars differ in early season susceptibility to the black pecan aphid but most, if not all, cultivars are similarly susceptible to black pecan aphid feeding later in the season. This is likely due to endogenous levels of certain plant bioregulators antagonistic to likely salivary enzymes of the black pecan aphid that break down chlorophyll thus allowing the aphid to feed on the resulting catabolites. As the season progresses and levels of these antagonistic plant bioregulators decrease, black pecan aphid feeding injury increases. Pretreatment of pecan foliage with certain plant bioregulators mitigates the ability of the black pecan aphid to elicit chlorotic feeding injury to pecan foliage.

Technical Abstract: This third and final part of the series on pecan aphids focuses on the unique feeding biology of Melanocallis caryaefoliae, the black pecan aphid. Elicitation of chlorotic feeding zones is important for normal development of M. caryaefoliae. It is apparent that pecan cultivars differ in early season susceptibility to M. caryaefoliae but most, if not all, cultivars are similarly susceptible to M. caryaefoliae feeding later in the season. This is likely due to endogenous levels of certain plant bioregulators antagonistic to likely salivary enzymes of M. caryaefoliae that break down chlorophyll thus allowing the aphid to feed on the resulting catabolites. As the season progresses and levels of these antagonistic plant bioregulators decrease, M. caryaefoliae feeding injury increases. Pretreatment of pecan foliage with certain plant bioregulators mitigates the ability of M. caryaefoliae to elicit chlorotic feeding injury to pecan foliage.