International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2017, Volume : 5, Issue : 4
First page : (561) Last page : (568)
Article doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2936

Aphids and their Host Affinity-VII: Rhopalosiphum spp.

Y. S. Rathore¹ and S. N. Tiwari²*
¹Ex- Principal Scientist, Indian Institute of Pulse Research, Kanpur 208026 (U.P.)
²Professor, Deptt.of Entomology, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar 263145 (Uttarakhand)
*Corresponding Author E-mail: drsntiwari@gmail.com
Received: 2.05.2017  |  Revised: 11.05.2017   |  Accepted: 13.05.2017  

 ABSTRACT

Seventeen species of Rhopalosiphum (Aphidinae: aphidini) were examined for their host plant relationships and their affinity to plant taxonomic groups. Out of 17 species, 29.41% were monophagous (R. arundinariae, R. chesqueae, R. dryopterae, R. laconae, R. sanguinarium), 11.76% oligophagous (R. padformis, R. parvae) and 58.82% polyphagous. Species R. arundinariae, R. laconae and R. chesqueae were feeding only on monocotyledons; R. sanguinarium on dicotyledons and R. dryopterae on ferns in gymnosperms. In general, taxonomic affinity (across Rhopalosiphum species) revealed that monocotyledons (70.41%) were more preferred than dicotyledons (28.49%) and gymnosperms-ferns (1.10%). In highly polyphagous species, contribution of monocotyledons was greater in R. maidis (90.36%), R. padi (87.72%), and R. rufiabdominale (51.14%). In all the aforesaid cases share of host species in Poaceae (glumiflorae) was maximum. However, in R. nymphaeae more host plants were infested in dicotyledons (53.80%) as compared to monocotyledons (41.77%) and ferns (4.43%). Here plant species in calyciferae and corolliferae were colonized in greater numbers than in glumiflorae. Various ratios and General Affiliation Index values distinctly showed that Rhopalosiphum species tended to prefer monocotyledonous plant species. However, preference was species specific. Acceptance of host species in abundance from gymnosperms and very primitive orders from dicotyledons, especially in herbaceae (Ranales), and monocotyledons (Alismatales and Butamales) indicates ancient association of some of the Rhopalosiphum species with these groups of plants.

Key words: Rhopalosiphum spp., angiosperms, dicotyledons, monocotyledons, General Affiliation Index

Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782

Cite this article: Rathore, Y.S. and Tiwari, S.N., Aphids and their Host Affinity-VII: Rhopalosiphum spp., Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.5(4): 561-568 (2017). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2936