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Title: Aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) associated with rhubarb (Rheum spp.) in the Matanuska Valley, Alaska: species composition, seasonal abundance, and potential virus vectors

Author
item PANTOJA, ALBERTO
item HAGERTY, AARON
item EMMERT, SUSAN
item KUHL, JOSEPH
item PIKE, KEITH - UNIV. OF WASHINGTON
item ALVAREZ, JUAN - UNIV. OF IDAHO
item JENSEN, ANDREW - WA STATE POTATO COMM.

Submitted to: Journal of British Columbia Entomological Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/30/2009
Publication Date: 12/20/2010
Citation: Pantoja, A., Hagerty, A.M., Emmert, S.Y., Kuhl, J.C., Pike, K., Alvarez, J.M., Jensen, A. 2010. Aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) associated with rhubarb (Rheum spp.) in the Matanuska Valley, Alaska: species composition, seasonal abundance, and potential virus vectors. Journal of British Columbia Entomological Society. 107:75-81.

Interpretive Summary: Culinary rhubarb (Rheum spp.), is one of the priority crop species curated at the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Subarctic Agricultural Research Unit (SARU) in Palmer, Alaska. The Palmer site acts as the primary rhubarb repository for the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). The NPGS is responsible for maintaining a diverse collection of plant genetic material in the United States. The SARU rhubarb collection has 41 accessions; some accessions are infected with Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) The TuMV has a large plant host range and has a worldwide distribution, and spreads mechanically from plant-to-plant and by aphids. The insect fauna associated to cultivated plants in Alaska and other high latitude environments is little known. There are no known published reports on aphids associated to rhubarb in Alaska. This work was initiated to identify the aphids associated to commercial rhubarb in Alaska. Twenty aphid species associated with commercial rhubarb production where identified. Twelve species are capable of colonizing the crop. Three of the twelve species, Hayhurstia atriplicis, Macroshiphum euphorbiae, and Rhopalosiphum spp. represented 77.8% of the total number of aphids collected by hand. The presence of H. atriplicis in rhubarb represents the first report of this species in the crop. Chaitophorus and Ropalosiphum were the most abundant genera in Fairbanks (34%) and Palmer (30%) respectively. This report represents the first study of aphids from rhubarb in Alaska. This represents the first extensive study of this group of insects in this crop and provides information needed for the development of IPM for aphids in rhubarb. The development of IPM strategies for Alaska is of particular interest since it is expected that insect populations in the state may increase with climate change.

Technical Abstract: Rheum spp (rhubarb) is one of the priority crop species curated at the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Subarctic Agricultural Research Unit (SARU) in Palmer, Alaska. The Palmer site acts as the primary rhubarb repository for the USDA, ARS, National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). The SARU rhubarb collection has 41 accessions; some infected with Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV). TuMV spreads mechanically from plant-to-plant, and by aphids. Aphid transmitted diseases are an emerging problem for potato and vegetable producers in the conterminous United States, however, the biology of agricultural insect pests and their relationship with diseases in the circumpolar region is lacking or poorly understood. Research conducted from 2005 to 2007 in the rhubarb producing areas of Alaska resulted in the identification of 20 aphid species associated with commercial rhubarb production. Twelve species are capable of colonizing the crop. Three of the twelve species, Hayhurstia atriplicis, Macroshiphum euphorbiae, and Rhopalosiphum spp. represented 77.8% of the total number of aphids collected by hand. The presence of H. atriplicis in rhubarb represents the first report of this species in the crop. Chaitophorus and Ropalosiphum were the most abundant genera in Fairbanks (34%) and Palmer (30%) respectively. This report represents the first study of aphids from rhubarb in Alaska.