Differential Aphid Colony Establishment in <i>Dolichos lablab</i> Varieties Correlated with Some Plant Specific Factors That Impact on Aphid Fecundity

Abstract

Aphid establishes colony in the selective plant parts like vine, leaf petiole, leaflet, inflorescence, and tender fruit in Dolichos lablab Linn but not the entire plant. In this study, the aphid colony establishment in vine is focused to understand the differential resistance response between two varieties. At the early stage of aphid infestation, the aphid colony establishment was significantly different between two genotypes (p value = 0.00) and abbreviated as “resistant” variety that supported lower aphid proliferation (mean value = 48.2 ± 2.2) and “susceptible” variety that supported comparatively higher aphid proliferation (mean value = 215.5 ± 16.9). The total aphid number was significantly different between the two varieties, realized at the early infestation stage when both “antixenosis” and “antibiosis” defense mechanisms were working on. Some plant specific factors like vine diameter, wet/ dry weight ratio of vine, phloem sap pressure, the compactness of the vine, wet/dry weight ratio of leaflet, length of leaf petiole, diameter of leaflet vein were identified as modulating factors. The impact of resistant variety on aphid was also investigated for better understanding of aphid defense mechanism.