The Ecology of the Bird Cherry-Oat Aphid, Rhopalosiphum Padi (L.)
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WÅITT. INSTI]'IjTE t8't,n3 LIIìR,\fiY The Ecology of the Bird Cherry-Oat Àphid, RhopaTosiphun padi (t. ) (Heniptera: Aphididae) in the Low Rainfall llheat Belt of South Australia. By PauI Joseph De Barro B.Ag.Sc. (Hons) The University of Àdelaide A thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at The University of Àdelaide. Department of crop Protection Waite Àgricultural Research fnstitute The University of Adelaide December L99I TO ELIZÀBETH ÀNNE CARTER Table of Contents Page SUI,TII{ÀRY xi DECI,ÀRATION xiii ÀCKNO¡{LEDGT,TENTS xiv INTRODUCTION 1 RESEÀRCH PI-ÀN 3 CTIÀPTER 1 CEREÀL APHIDS IN AUSTRALIÀ 5 CHÀPTER 2 BÀRLEY YELLOI,{ DÍ{ÀRF VIRUS IN AUSTRÀLIA 15 CTIÀPTER 3 A CHEAP LIGHTWEIGHT EFFICIENT VÀCUUM SÀMPLER. 24 Abstract 24 Introduction 24 Materials and Methods 24 Results and Discussion 27 CHÀPTER 4. KARYOTYPES OF CEREAL ÀPHIDS IN SOUTH AUSTRÀLIÀ WTTH SPECIÀL REFERENCE TO R. MATDÏg. 30 Àbstract 30 Introduction 30 Materials and Methods 33 Results 34 Discussion 34 CHÀPTER 5. STUDIES ON THE BIOLOGY OF ÀPTEROUS R. PADI. 38 Àbstract 38 Introduction 38 Materials and Methods 39 Results and Discussion 4I CHÄPTER 6. THE ROLE OF REFUGE AREÀS IN THE PHENOLOGY OF R. PADT IN LOhI RÀINFÀLL CROPPING AREAS OF SOUTH ÀUSTRÀLIÀ. 44 Abstract 44 Introduction 44 Materials and Methods 49 Results 53 Discussion 65 111 CHÀPTER 7 THE ROLE OF TEMPERÀTURE, PHOTOPERIOD, CROWDING ÀND PLÀNT QUALITY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ÀLATE EXULE FORM OF R. PADÏ. 69 Abstract 69 Introduction 70 Materials and Methods 7L Results 77 Discussion 88 CIIÀPTER 8. THE INFLUENCE OF HIGH TEMPERÀTURES ON THE SURVIVAL OF R. PADT IN IRRIGATED PERENNIAL GRÀSS PASTURES. 92 Abstract 92 Introduction 92 Materials and Methods 94 Results 98 Discussion 111 CTIÀPTER 9 THE IMPACT OF SPIDERS ÀND HIGH TEMPERATURES ON R. PADT NUMBERS TN ÀN IRRIGATED PERENNIÀL GRÀSS PASTURE IN SOUTH ÀUSTRALIA. 116 Àbstract LL6 Introduction 116 Materials and Methods LL7 Results I2L Discussion L28 CTIÀPTER 10. THE ROLE OF ANNUÀL VOLUNTEER GRASSES IN THE PHENOLOGY oF R. PADI IN LoÏ^¡ RÀINFÀLL SOUTH AUSTRÀLIA. l-34 Abstract 134 Introduction L34 Materials and Methods 136 Results L4L Discussion L52 CTIÀPTER 1I-. THE SURVEYS OF WHEAT CROPS IN LOW RAINFALL SOUTH AUSTRÀLIA BETWEEN ].989 AND 1991. L57 Abstract r57 Introduction I57 Materials and Methods 159 Results and Discussion L62 IV CIIÀPTER 12. THE PHENOLOGY OF R. PADI IN WHEAT CROPS IN THE LOW RÀINFALL WHEÀT BELT OF SOUTH AUSTRALIÀ. 168 Abstract 168 Introduction 168 Materials and Methods L69 Results 17L Discussion I76 CIIÀPTER 13. THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF FOUR COLOURS OF TRÀPS TO CEREÀL APHTDS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIÀ. 181 Abstract 181 Introduction 181 Materials and Methods L82 Results and Discussion 186 CHAPTER 14. A SURVEY OF WHEAT INFESTING CEREÀL ÀPHIDS FLYING OVER SOUTH ÀUSTRÀLIA TN 1989. r89 Abstract 189 Introduction 189 Materials and Methods 191 Results 193 Discussion r97 CIIÀPTER 15. THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BARLEY YELLOW D9{ARF VIRUS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 200 CTIÀPTER 16. GENERAL DISCUSSION. 202 APPENDIX 1. 208 APPENDIX 2. 209 ÀPPENDIX 3. 2LL REFERENCES 218 v List of figrures Page CIIÀPTER 5 Fig. 5.1. Rate of development of apterous R. padi 4La CHÄPTER 6 Fig. 6.1 Low rainfall wheat belt and area surveyed for possible summer refuges. 45 Fig. 6.2. Mean number of R. padi in pastures. 56 Fig. 6.3. Mean number of R. padi and the mean proportion of alate adults and alatoid nymphs Nov.. 57 . in oct. to Fig. 6.4. Mean proportion of alatoid nynphs. 60 Fiq. 6.5. The relationship between the change in the proportion of alatoid nyrnphs and photoperiod. 61 CHÀPTER 8 Fig. 8 1. The relationship between temperatures at the base of 5, L0 and 15 cm swards and temperatures within a Stevenson screen. 104 Fig. a.2. The relationship between the maximum daily temperature and the mean number of R. padi at Mt Barker. ro7 Fig. 8.3. The relationship between the maximum daily temperature and the mean number of R. Padi at MurraY Bridge. 108 CIIÀFTER 10 Fig- 10.1. The locations of annual grasses sanpled or surveyed. 138 Fig. LO.2. The total numbers of R. padi in grasses between Malla1a and Mannum. L42 Fig- 1O.3. The total numbers of R. padi in qrasses between MurraY Bridge and Sedan. r43 V1 Fig. 1o.4. the mean numbers of R. padi in grasses L45 Fig. 1o.5. The mean proportion of alates at different grass growth stages. L47 CHAPTER 11 Fig. 11.1. Map of South Àustralia indicating the locations of crops sampled. 160 CHAPTER 12 Fiq. L2.L. The mean number of aphids in wheat crops. L72 Fig. L2.2. The mean proportion of infested tillers. t74 Fig. L2.3. The total number of R. padi on different parts of a wheat Èi1ler. 175 CTIÀPTER I-3 Fig. 13.1. The reflectance spectrums of wheat, rryoung wheatrr green ttbrighttr green and YeIlow. ' 184 CHÀT{TER 14 Fig. 14.1. The locations of aphid traps. l-92 Fig. L4.2. The mean numbers of R. padi trapped across all stations. ]-96 vr1 List of tables Page CTIÀPTER 4 Table 4.L. The relationship between the different karyotypes of R. maidis and different host plants. 32 Table 4.2. Karyotypes of R. majdjs on different hosts. 35 CHÀPTER 6 Table 6.1-. The regression of proportion of alatoid nymphs on temperature, photoperiod and aphid densitY. 63 CTIÀPTER 7 Table 7.L. The mean proportion of alate R. padi in the first generation. 78 Table 7.2. The mean number of nymphs produced in the second generation 80 Table 7.3. The mean proportion of alate R. padi in the second generation. 81 Table 7.4. The influence of plant quality, crowding and temPerature on alate development. ö+ Table 7.5. The mean weights of adult R- padi- 86 Table 7.6. The mean potential fecundity of R. padi. 87 CTIÀPÎER 8 Table 8.1. The mean total number of alive + dead R. padi. 100 Table 8.2. The effect of high temPeratures on the proportion of mortalitY. 101 Table 8.3. The effect of hiqh temPeratures on adult longevitY, fecunditY and rate of reproduction. 105 Tab1e 8.4. The proportion of Years with at Ieast 1 day >36"c in each of the weeks of FebruarY and March 110 v]-1l CHÀPTER 9 Tabl-e 9. t-. The number of plots sampled in each treatment. 119 Table 9.2. The mean number and u/(x+O.1) mean. of R. padi at T1 (r5/3/eL) 1,23 Table 9.3. The mean number and ,/ ( x+0 . 1- ) mean of R. padi aE T2. 124 Table 9.4. The mean number of juvenile spiders and the mean toal number of spiders at T0,Tl- and T2. r27 CIIÀPTER 10 Table 10.1. The regression of proportion of 'alatoid nynphs on aPhid densitY, photoperiod, Plant qualitY and temperature. 150 CHAI{TER 11 Table 11.1. The total number of R. padi and proportion of infestation in wheat crops across South Àustralia. 163 CHÀPTER 13 Table 13.1. The mean number of aphids caught in pan traps. r87 CHÀPTER 14 Tabl-e L4.1. The total number of R - padi caught each week in Pan traPs at each traPPing location- L94 APPENDIX 1 Table 1.1. The proportion of alatoid nymphs, photopeiiod, temperature and aphid density in perennial grass pastures' 208 ÀPPENDIX 2 Tabte 2.L. The proportion of alatoid nymphs, pnotõPeriod, temPerature, aPhid density and plant quality in annual volunteer grasses in the Lower MurraY VaIIeY. 209 1X Table 2.2. The proportion of alatoid nymphs, photoperi-od, temperature, aPhid density and plant quality in annual volunteer grasses in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Adelaide Plains. 2LO ÀPPENDIX 3 Table 3.1. Lower Murray Valley 2LL Table 3.2- Murray Mallee 2L2 Table 3.3. Eyre Peninsula 2r3 TabÌe 3.4. Lower and Upper North 2r4 Table 3.5. Murray MaIIee 2L5 Table 3.6. Eyre Peninsula 2L6 Table 3.7. Lower and Upper North 217 x sulr{l,fÀRY The lack of adequate summer rainfall in South Australia prevents cereals from being groh¡n during summer and restricts non-cereal grasses to irrigated areas. These included perennial grass pastures and forage crops. RhopaTosiphun naidis (Fitch) was found to infest forage crops, but it rarely infested wheat and was not studied. The only other species found was R. padi (L. ) which occurred in perenniàI grass pastures. The PÀV and RPV types of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) also occurred in these pastures. In order for R. padi to infest wheat, aphids surviving over summer need to produce alatoid progeny which then migrate. Large numbers of alates l¡rere produced in ÀpriL/May. The numbers produced depended on the numbers of aphids surviving summer. The number surviving r¡ras inversery related to the nunber and frequency of days >36'C. Alate production $tas due to decreasing photoperiod, temperature and crowding. Between 2 and 822 of alates transmitted BYDV and therefore, had the potential to cause significant infections. There r¡tere no further flights from pastures. AIates rnigrating from pastures infested wheat crops so!{n between Iate April and early May, but in South Australia most crops, due to the tining of autumn rainfall, are not sor¡rn until late May and so emerge af ter the f lights ' XI Therefore, most alates land on non-cereal hosts such as annual volunteer grasses. Surveys of wheat crops and annuaL volunteer grasses in June and JuIy indicated R. padi had dispersed across the state. Alate production in these grasses began in JuIy.