Nutrition versus defense: Why Myzus persicae (green peach aphid) prefers and performs better on young leaves of cabbage

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196219
• Publication Date: 2018-04-23T17:27:22Z
• Authors: He-He Cao; Zhan-Feng Zhang; Xiao-Feng Wang; Tong-Xian Liu
• Keywords: Myzus persicae; Honeydew

Plant leaves of different ages differ in nutrients and toxic metabolites thus exhibit various resistance levels against insect herbivores. However, little is known about the influence leaf ontogeny on plant to phloem-feeding insects. In this study, we found that green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, preferred settle young cabbage compared with mature or old leaves, although contained highest concentration glucosinolates. Furthermore, aphids feeding had higher glucosinolates their body, but performed better terms body weight population growth. Phloem sap amino acid:sugar molar ratio than showed two times longer phloem time five more honeydew excretion other leaves. These results indicate acquired amount defensive when are strong natural sinks. Accordingly, propose generally prefer obtain nutrition rather avoiding host defense, total could significantly influenced by source-sink status sites.