Feeding Behavior of Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) on Soybean: Electrical Penetration Graph Analysis and Histological Investigations

Abstract

Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) is a major agricultural pest feeding on soybean pods and seeds. The large populations occur during seed maturity stages from pod filling to harvest. Its infestation results in shriveled and dimpled seeds while vegetative structures (leaflet and stem) remain green, known as “Stay Green” syndrome. Additional evidence also demonstrates that soybean pods and seeds are required for Riptortus pedestris development. However, the feeding behavior strategies employed by this stink bug to feed on soybean plants are still not clear. In the present study, the feeding behaviors of R. pedestris on soybean plants were recorded by electropenetrography (EPG), and a waveform library was created for this species. A total of five phases of waveforms—nonprobing, pathway (Rp1), xylem sap ingestion (Rp2), salivation and ingestion (Rp3), and interruption (Rp4)—were identified. Non-probing waveforms Z and NP and pathway (Rp1) were found in all tested plant structures (leaflet, stem, cotyledon, and pods). Waveform Rp2 (xylem sap ingestion, xylem ingestion) was primarily recorded during R. pedestris feeding on leaflets and stems, while Rp3 (salivation/ingestion) was only observed during feeding on cotyledon and pods. Histological examinations confirmed that correlation between Rp2 and stylet tip positioning in the xylem vessel in leaflets and stems. Stylet tips end in the tissues of cotyledon and pods when Rp3 is recorded. Taken together, our results demonstrate that R. pedestris ingests xylem sap from vegetative tissues of soybean (leaflet and stem) via a salivary sheath strategy to obtain water. It mainly acquires nutrients from soybean pods and/or seeds using cell-rupture tactics. This study provided insightful information to understand the field occurrence patterns of “Stay Green” syndrome, which may have important implications for pest control.