Hesperidin as a Species-Specific Modifier of Aphid Behavior

Area of Science:

• Plant-insect interactions
• Natural product chemistry
• Agricultural entomology

Background:

• The ecological roles of flavonoids, such as hesperidin, are not well understood, especially their impact on herbivore behavior.
• Flavonoids are being investigated as potential biopesticides due to their bioactive properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of hesperidin on the host plant selection behavior of three key aphid species.
• To evaluate hesperidin's efficacy as a deterrent against aphids, assessing pre-ingestive, ingestive, and post-ingestive effects.

Main Methods:

• Three aphid species (Acyrthosiphon pisum, Rhopalosiphum padi, Myzus persicae) were tested on host plants treated with 0.1% and 0.5% ethanolic hesperidin solutions.
• Aphid probing behavior was monitored using electropenetrography in no-choice experiments.
• Aphid settling behavior was recorded in choice experiments.

Main Results:

• Hesperidin demonstrated pre-ingestive, ingestive, and post-ingestive deterrent effects against Acyrthosiphon pisum at a 0.1% concentration.
• Hesperidin acted as an ingestive deterrent against Rhopalosiphum padi and a post-ingestive deterrent against Myzus persicae.
• Deterrent effects in A. pisum were observed during probing, while M. persicae avoidance was linked to consuming hesperidin-treated phloem sap.

Conclusions:

• Hesperidin exhibits significant deterrent properties against multiple aphid species, indicating its potential as a natural biopesticide.
• The concentration and mode of action (pre-ingestive, ingestive, post-ingestive) vary among aphid species, suggesting specific interaction mechanisms.