Aphids are prominent phloem-feeding insect pests. Myzus persicae and Acyrthosiphon pisum are generalist and specialist species, respectively. In this study, these two aphid species were used to investigate host acceptance and plant resistance to aphid feeding. M.persicae survived and reproduced on rape (Brassica rapa), but few individuals (9%) survived on faba bean (Vicia faba). A.pisum survived and reproduced on faba bean, but no A.pisum survived on rape. The probing and feeding behavior of M. persicae and A. pisum on rape and faba bean was examined using an electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique. The results demonstrated the feeding preferences of these two aphid species. The EPG results suggest that the resistance of faba bean to M. persicae and that of rape to A. pisum are likely residing in the phloem and mesophyll tissues, respectively. Due to the distinct probing and feeding behaviors, specialist and generalist aphids would have different impacts on the epidemiology of plant viral diseases. The findings can be applied to the management of viral diseases transmitted by specialist or generalist aphids in crop production.
Keywords: aphid; behavior; electrical penetration graph; host plant.