Document: PRO-3-99-110

Known facts about the ecology of Myzus species in Iran in comparison to recent world investigations.

HODJAT, S.H.

University of Shahid Chamran, Ahwaz IRAN ¹

Abstract:
There are seven or nine species of Myzus Passerini, 1860 in Iran. Subgenera of Nectarosiphon are represented by four to six names of the Myzus species group in Iran. The green peach aphid Myzus (Nectarosiphon) persicae (Sulzer, 1776) is well adapted to various climatic conditions. In Khuzistan with hot dry summers and mild winters it is collected from over 50 host species from November to April. In April, alatae migrates to the cooler Zagros mountains. In these regions as well as in Tehran districts, they overwinter as nymphs on Asteracea or eggs on peach and almond. In very cool Alborz mountain regions they overwinter only in egg form on peach. Radiation in Myzus species is possibly the result of coevolution with their host plant as a result of environmental stress. Sources of stress may be abiotic or changes in secondary metabolite of their host plant. In IBP investigation M. persicae was abundant on potato in Europe while in Karaj (40 km south west Tehran) in 1970 the infestation was very low. The population of M. persicae on safflower in Ahwaz was higher on Nebrasca varieties and lower on local Arak variety. The alate record of winter Ahwaz popultion in yellow trap was surprisingly very high, specially in March. In this review possibilities of Myzus radiation and adaptation to various other hosts is described as new taxon names. The recent literatures of world investigation on the Myzus group is compared with what is known as species radiation under environmental stress.

Keywords: Myzus Persicae

This abstract is being presented at: 11:15 AM in session:
Oral Session #4: Herbivore Responses to Plants.