title: Partial aphid resistance in lettuce negatively affects parasitoids.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of partial plant resistance on the lettuce aphid Nasonovia ribisnigri (Mosley) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a major pest of cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), and one of its parasitoids, Aphidius ervi Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Aphids were reared on susceptible (L. sativa variety Estival; S) or partially resistant (Lactuca serriola L. PI 491093; PR) lettuce, and next parasitized by A. ervi females. Fitness proxies were measured for both aphids and parasitoids. Developmental time to adult stage took longer for alate and apterous aphids (an average of 3.5 and 1.5 additional days, respectively) on PR than on S lettuce, and fecundity of alate aphids reared on PR lettuce was reduced by 37.8% relative to those reared on S lettuce. Size (tibia length) and weight of aphids reared on PR lettuce were lower than for aphids reared on S lettuce from the third and second instar onward, respectively. Parasitism of aphids reared on PR plants resulted in lower parasitoid offspring emergence (-49.9%), lower adult female (-30.3%) and male (-27.5%) weight, smaller adult female (-17.5%) and male (-11.9%) size, and lower female fecundity (37.8% fewer eggs) than when parasitoids developed from aphids reared on S plants. Our results demonstrate that partial aphid resistance in lettuce negatively affects both the second and third trophic levels. Host plant resistance in cultivated lettuce may therefore create an ecological sink for aphid parasitoids.
authors.affiliation: Horticultural Research and Development Centre (HRDC), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 430 Blvd., Gouin, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec J3B 3E6, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Eve
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lanteigne
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brodeur
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jenni
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boivin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D018545:Lactuca / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D009758:Nymph / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D014863:Wasps / Q000502:physiology*