Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Life table and population parameters of cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae) on five cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L. Walp.) varieties

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Pest Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch, is an important pest of cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L. Walp.) in most tropical regions where cowpea is grown. We used life table and population parameters of the cowpea aphids reared on five cowpea varieties to assess the degree of host plant resistance. The five varieties were Blackeye, B005-C, INIA-37, IT835-720-20 and TVX3671-14C-OID. The parameters measured were fecundity, survival, intrinsic rate of natural increase, pre-reproductive period and relative growth rate of cowpea aphids. Our hypothesis was that cowpea varieties resistant to A. craccivora would have significant effects on life table parameters of the aphid when compared to a susceptible variety. Mean fecundity, age-specific fecundity, survival rates, intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m), pre-reproductive period and relative growth rate differed significantly among varieties. Fecundity, survival, intrinsic rate of natural increase and mean relative growth rate were significantly lower on variety IT835-720-20 compared to susceptible variety Blackeye. The pre-reproductive period was significantly delayed on variety IT835-720-20 compared to other varieties. The adverse effects of variety IT835-720-20 on life table parameters of A. craccivora indicate the presence of host plant resistance. Prolonged pre-reproductive period and reduction in reproductive performance of A. craccivora on variety IT835-720-20 may suggest that antibiosis is the modality of resistance. However, further detailed studies that include determination of biochemical and morphological characteristics that mediate resistance need to be carried out. IT835-720-20 is, therefore, a promising variety with useful genetic resource for cowpea breeding programs aimed at developing resistant varieties against A. craccivora.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Annan IB, Tingey WM, Schaefers GA (1997) Population dynamics and clonal comparisons of Aphis craccivora (Homoptera: Aphididae) on resistant and susceptible cowpea cultivars. Environ Entomol 26:250–255

    Google Scholar 

  • Bata HD, Singh BB, Singh SR, Ladeinde TAO (1987) Inheritance of resistance to aphid in Cowpea. Crop Sci 27:892–894

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berg GN (1984) The effect of temperature and host species on the population growth potential of the cowpea aphid, Aphis Craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae). Aust J Zool 32:345–352. doi:10.1071/ZO9840345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz BM, Fereres A (2005) Life table and population parameters of Nasonovia ribisnigri (Homoptera: Aphididae) at different constant temperatures. Environ Entomol 34:527–534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon AFG (1985) Structure of aphid populations. Annu Rev Entomol 30:155–174. doi:10.1146/annurev.en.30.010185.001103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon AFG (1987) Parthenogenetic reproduction and rate of increase in aphids. In: Minks AK, Harrewijn P (eds) Aphids their biology natural enemies and control, vol A. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, pp 269–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Givovich A, Weibull J, Pettersson J (1988) Cowpea aphid performance and behaviour on two resistant cowpea lines. Entomol Exp Appl 49:259–264. doi:10.1007/BF00187501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guldemond JA, van den Brink WJ, den Belder E (1998) Methods of assessing population increase in aphids and the effect of growth stage of the host plant on population growth rates. Entomol Exp Appl 86:163–173. doi:10.1023/A:1003197830543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutierrez APD, Morgan J, Havenstein DE (1971) The ecology of Aphis craccivora Koch and subterranean clover stunt Virus. I. The phenology of aphid populations and the epidemiology of virus in pastures in South-East Australia. J Appl Ecol 8:699–721. doi:10.2307/2402678

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill DS (1983) Agricultural insect pests of the tropics and their control. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Holopainen JK, Kainulainen P (2004) Reproductive capacity of the grey pine aphid and allocation response of Scots pine seedlings across temperature gradients: a test of hypotheses predicting outcomes of global warming. Can J For Res 34:94–102. doi:10.1139/x03-203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holopainen JK, Kossi S (1998) Variable growth and reproduction response of the spruce shoot aphid, Cinara pilicornis, to increasing ozone concentrations. Entomol Exp Appl 87:109–113. doi:10.1023/A:1003241703852

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jackai LEN, Daoust RA (1986) Insect pests of cowpeas. Annu Rev Entomol 31:95–119. doi:10.1146/annurev.en.31.010186.000523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackai LEN, Goudou C, Asiwe JAN, Tayo BO (2001) Integrated control of the cowpea aphid using seed dressing and varietal resistance. Samaru J Agric Res 17:13–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy GG, Abou-Ghadir MF (1979) Bionomics of the turnip aphid on two turnip cultivars. J Econ Entomol 72:754–757

    Google Scholar 

  • Kidd NAC (1991) The implications of air pollution for conifer aphid population dynamics: a simulation analysis. J Appl Entomol 111:166–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kocourek F, Havelka J, Berankova J, Jarosik V (1994) Effect of temperature on developmental rate and intrinsic rate of increase of Aphis gossypii reared on greenhouse cucumbers. Entomol Exp Appl 71:59–64. doi:10.1007/BF02380569

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laamari M, Khelfa L, Cœur d’Acier A (2008) Resistance source to cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) in broad bean (Vicia faba L.) Algerian landrace collection. Afr J Biotechnol 7:2486–2490

    Google Scholar 

  • Maelzer DA (1977) The biology and main causes of changes in numbers of the rose aphid. Macrosiphum rosae (L.), on cultivated roses in South Australia. Aust J Zool 25:269–284. doi:10.1071/ZO9770269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Obopile M (2006) Economic threshold and injury levels for control of cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Linnaeus (Homoptera: Aphididae) on cowpea. Afr Plant Prot 12:111–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Ofuya TI (1988) Antibiosis in some cowpea varieties resistant to the cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae). Int Pest Contr 30:68–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Ofuya TI (1997) Control of the cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae) in cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Integr Pest Manage Rev 2:199–207. doi:10.1023/A:1018461320137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Painter RH (1951) Insect resistance in crop plants. Macmillan, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettersson J, Karunaratne S, Ahmed E, Kumar V (1998) The cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora, host plant odours and pheromones. Entomol Exp Appl 88:177–184. doi:10.1023/A:1003404528689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Price PW (1984) Insect ecology. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinn GP, Keough MJ (2002) Experimental design and data analysis for biologists. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinink K, Dieleman FL, Jansen J, Montenarie AM (1989) Interactions between plant and aphid genotypes in resistance of lettuce to Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae. Euphytica 43:215–222. doi:10.1007/BF00023056

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruggle P, Gutierrez AP (1995) Use of life tables to assess host plant resistance in alfalfa to Therioaphis trifolii f. maculate (Homoptera: Aphididae): hypothesis for maintenance of resistance. Environ Entomol 24:313–325

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute (2003) SAS users guide: statistics. SAS Institute, Cary, NC

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh SR, Jackai LEN (1985) Insect pests of cowpeas in Africa: their life cycle, economic importance, and potential for control. In: Singh SR, Rachie KO (eds) Cowpea research, production and utilization. Wiley, Chichester, pp 217–231

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh RS, Jackai LEN, Dos Santos HRR, Adalla CB (1990) Insect pests of cowpeas. In: Singh RS, Rachie KO (eds) Insect pests of tropical legumes. Wiley, Chichester, pp 43–89

    Google Scholar 

  • van Lenteren JC, Noldus LPJJ (1990) Whitefly–plant relationships: behavioural and ecological aspects. In: Gerling D (ed) Whiteflies: bionomics pest status and management. Intercept Ltd, Andover, Hants, pp 47–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyatt IJ, White PF (1977) Simple estimation of intrinsic increase rates for aphids and tetranychid mites. J Appl Ecol 14:757–766. doi:10.2307/2402807

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by funds from the Botswana Ministry of Education and the Botswana College of Agriculture. We thank the Department of Agricultural Research for supplying the seed of cowpea varieties used in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana

    Motshwari Obopile & Baitheri Ositile

  2. Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Centre, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, USA

    Motshwari Obopile

Authors
  1. Motshwari Obopile
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Baitheri Ositile
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Motshwari Obopile.

Additional information

Communicated by H. Vogt.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Obopile, M., Ositile, B. Life table and population parameters of cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae) on five cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L. Walp.) varieties. J Pest Sci 83, 9–14 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-009-0262-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-009-0262-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation