DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTION OF THE GREEN PEACH APHID, MYZUS PERSICAE (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE), ON UPPER AND LOWER LEAVES OF THREE POTATO CULTIVARS

Abstract

AbstractThe influence of potato cultivar (Solanum tuberosum tuberosum (L.) cvs. Katahdin (long-season), Norchip (mid-season), and Superior (short-season)) and vertical leaf position on certain life statistics of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), were assessed in a glasshouse environment. Aphids were caged on upper and lower leaves of each cultivar. Developmental time requirements for pre-reproductive life stages were similar among cultivars and between leaf positions. Longevity was similar among cultivars within leaf position. However, aphids survived 62.3, 53.6, and longer on lower leaves than on upper leaves of Superior, Norchip, and Katahdin (p < 0.05 on Superior and Katahdin). Mean generation time (MGT) was similar among cultivars on upper leaves. On lower leaves, MGT was shorter on Superior than on Katahdin. MGT was 15.2, 6.9, and shorter on lower leaves than on upper leaves of Superior, Norchip, and Katahdin, respectively (p < 0.05 on Superior). Total fecundity and intrinsic rate of increase were greater on the lower leaves of each cultivar.