Life-cycle variation ofMyzus persicae(Sulz.) (Hom., Aphididae) in different parts of the world, in relation to genotype and environment

Abstract

AbstractLife-cycle variation, involving alternative methods of overwintering (holocycly and anholocycly), is found in many important pest aphids, and may have considerable ecological, genetic and economic significance. The occurrence of life-cycle variation in Myzus persicae (Sulz.) in different parts of the world is reviewed. The holocycle ofM. persicae, with sexual reproduction and overwintering of eggs on Prunus, occurs in the temperate regions of every continent, and although anholocycly is widespread in warm climates there are indications that the potential for sexual reproduction may be retained throughout the whole range of the species. The environmental factors involved in the determination of sexual morphs are considered. Photoperiodism provides the timing mechanism for sexual morph production, and the photoperiodic response is probably tuned to different regional conditions and buffered against other environmental variables within certain limits. The only other environmental factor clearly implicated in sexual morph production is temperature, and an attempt is made to correlate the global pattern of life-cycle variation inM. persicaewith temperature differences between regions, by dividing the world into six zones delimited by selected isotherms. The overall pattern of life-cycle variation can be explained largely on the basis of climatic differences between zones, and the effects of these differences on gene and genotype frequencies within the species. Clones of androcyclic character seem to be widespread and, although genetically isolated anholocyclic biotypes undoubtedly exist, androcyclic clones could be the principal source of parthenogenetic overwinterers in all parts of the world where life-cycle differences exist within populations.