Biological and life table parameters of the mealy almond aphid, Hyalopterus amygdali, on five commercial cultivars of almonds under laboratory conditions

The mealy almond aphid, Hyalopterus amygdali (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is an important pest that causes severe damage to almond in Iran. This research studied the life table and population growth parameters of H. amygdali on five almond cultivars: ‘Mamaei’, ‘Rabie’, ‘Ferragnes’, ‘Shahrood ۷’, and ‘Shahrood ۲۱’. The experiment was conducted in an incubator at ۲۵ ± ۱ °C, ۵۰ ± ۵% RH, and a photoperiod of ۱۴:۱۰ hours (L:D). The data were analyzed using the Two-Sex MSChart program. Based on the results, the longest lifespan of the adult aphid was recorded on ‘Mamaei’ (۴.۱۱ days), while the shortest was on ‘Shahrood ۲۱’cultivar (۱.۸۹ days). The net reproductive rate (R۰) ranged from ۶.۴۲ for ‘Mamaei’ to ۰.۲ nymphs per individual in ‘Shahrood ۲۱’. ‘Mamaei’ cultivar showed the highest values of the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) and the finite rate of increase (λ) (۰.۲۴۵ and ۱.۲۷۸ day−۱, respectively), along with the shortest duration of the immature stages (۵.۷۹ days). In contrast, ‘Shahrood ۲۱’ showed the lowest values of rm and λ (-۰.۱۸۳ and ۰.۸۳۲ day−۱, respectively) and the longest duration of the immature stages (۷.۷۲ days). Based on the findings, ‘Mamaei’ and ‘Shahrood ۲۱’ cultivars were considered the most suitable and unsuitable hosts for the development and reproduction of H. amygdali, respectively.

کلیدواژه ها:

Hyalopterus amygdali ، Population growth ، reproduction ، Prunus dulcis ، Two-sex analysis