Host preference of various aphid species on winter vegetables
Author(s): Lal Bahadur Singh, Rama Sharma, Aditya Kumar and Amit Bagri
Abstract: Aphids, a significant emerging pest worldwide, have a broad impact on various hosts. This study aims to assess the specific host preferences of three aphid species: Pea Aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris), Mustard Aphid (Lipaphis erysimi Kat.), and Cabbage Aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae Linn.) on three different winter vegetables i.e. Cabbage, Garden pea, and Broadleaf Mustard. This research was conducted in the net house of AKS University, FAST campus, Satna, the research employed a two factorial CRD with three replications from January 2023 to February 2023. The statistical analysis revealed highly significant results for both aphid species and crop species, as well as their interaction, in terms of live aphid count. The interaction results indicated distinct host preferences, with Pea Aphid exclusively favoring legume crops (Garden pea). Cabbage Aphid and Mustard Aphid demonstrated preferences for Cabbage and Broadleaf Mustard, respectively. In Broadleaf mustard, the initial population count of Cabbage Aphid was higher, but over the time (34 days post-inoculation), Mustard Aphid increased at a faster rate, becoming statistically similar to Cabbage Aphid. Throughout the study period, the population of Mustard Aphid was consistently higher in cabbage. This comprehensive understanding of host preferences contributes to the enhancement of effective pest management programs against aphids.
