Tritrophic interactions between parasitoids and cereal aphids are mediated by nitrogen fertilizer

Aqueel, M.A., Raza, A.M., Balal, R.M., Shahid, M.A., Mustafa, I., Javaid, M.M. and Leather, S.R. (2015) Tritrophic interactions between parasitoids and cereal aphids are mediated by nitrogen fertilizer. Insect Science, 22 (6). pp. 813-820.

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

Host plant nutritional quality can directly and indirectly affect the third trophic levels. The aphid–parasitoid relationship provides an ideal system to investigate tritrophic interactions (as the parasitoids are completely dependent for their development upon their hosts) and assess the bottom up forces operating at different concentrations of nitrogen applications. The effects of varying nitrogen fertilizer on the performance of Aphidius colemani (V.) reared on Sitobion avenae (F.) and Aphidius rhopalosiphi (D.) reared on Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) were measured. Parasitism and percent emergence of parasitoids were positively affected by nitrogen fertilizer treatments while developmental duration (egg, larval, and pupal stages) was not affected by increasing nitrogen inputs. In males and females of both parasitoid species, adult longevity increased with the increasing nitrogen fertilizer. Hind tibia length and mummy weight of both parasitoid species increased with nitrogen fertilizer concentrations, as a result of larger aphids. This study showed that nitrogen application to the soil can have important consequences for aboveground multitrophic interactions.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	cereal aphid parasitoids, nitrogen fertilization, tritrophic interactions
Divisions:	Crop and Environment Sciences (to 31.07.20)
Depositing User:	Ms Kath Osborn
Date Deposited:	02 Feb 2017 18:56
Last Modified:	29 Nov 2018 11:17
URI:	https://hau.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/15131

Actions (login required)

Edit Item