Record Details
Environmental biology of Eriosoma pyricola Baker and Davidson
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Environmental biology of Eriosoma pyricola Baker and Davidson |
| Names |
Sethi, Satnam Lal
(creator) Swenson, K. G. (advisor) |
| Date Issued | 1968-03-15 (iso8601) |
| Note | Graduation date: 1968 |
| Abstract | A method of culturing Eriosoma pyricola on detached root pieces was developed to ensure a regular supply of aphids for experimental work. Another method was designed for studying the alate sexuparae formation in woolly pear aphid, whereby growing plants were infested so that the aphids or their progeny could be recovered later. Sexuparae were produced in woolly pear aphid colonies on the roots of "Domestic Bartlett" seedlings treated to induce dormancy, indicating E. pyricola is holocyclic in Oregon. No sexuparae were found while shoot growth continued. Shoot growth of pear seedlings ceased when the plants were exposed to 10-hour photoperiods at a constant 24°C. Growth continued for a much longer time when plants were kept under 16-hour photoperiods at alternating day and night temperatures, 24°C and 18°C, respectively. However, aphids did not produce sexuparae when cultured on detached root pieces from plants treated for four weeks under 10-hour photoperiods at a constant 24°C. Also, sexuparae were not found in aphid colonies on root pieces of dormant plants from the field. All these results agree with our field observations. In the field, sexuparae are produced for about two months in late summer and early fall on the roots of infested plants. After this, no more sexuparae appear in the remaining aphid populations which continue as apterous virginoparae on pear roots until autumn of the following year. Experiments on growth cessation in pear plants indicated that short day-length was not the critical factor responsible for the induction of growth cessation in pear seedlings. These experiments also showed that constant temperatures were more important in the regulation of growth in this pear variety. The direct effect of photoperiods and temperatures on sexuparae production in this aphid was also investigated. Aphids on detached root pieces did not produce sexuparae when exposed to 10-hour photo-periods at alternating day and night temperatures, 24°C and 18°C, respectively. Aphid cultures on detached root pieces were kept under different combinations of 10- and 16-hour photoperiods and 15° and 18°C constant temperatures. But the treatments had no effect on sexuparae formation. No sexuparae were found in aphid colonies on root pieces kept in continuous darkness at constant temperatures of 15°, 18°, 21°, 24° and 27°C for periods of 14 to 49 days. Also, sexuparae were not produced when aphid cultures on root pieces were alternated between 15° and 24°C every 12 hours for 47 days. Sexuparae were not found in our stock cultures maintained at 21°C for about three years. Direct effect of different temperatures on the development and increase in numbers of woolly pear aphid was also studied. Apterous E. pyricola on detached roots developed and reproduced normally at 24°C, but failed to reproduce and died within two weeks when kept at 27°C. Apterous from stock culture and alate virginoparae from elm galls were transferred to the detached roots of "Domestic Bartlett" pear, Amelanchier florida Lindl., Sorbus sitchensis, Crataegus species, Ribes sativum and Red Delicious apple. The aphids did not survive except on the pear roots. |
| Genre | Thesis/Dissertation |
| Topic | Aphididae |
| Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/1957/47000 |
