Effect ofSolanum Glycoalkaloids on Potato Aphid,Macrosiphum euphorbiae

Macrosiphum euphorbiae, also known as the potato aphid, is a potato virus vector, associated with decreased tuber production. Feeding, toxicity, and reproductive effects of the major potato glycoalkaloids (α-chaconine and α-solanine), their common aglycone (solanidine), and a nonpotato glycoalkaloid (α-tomatine) and its aglycone (tomatidine) onM. euphorbiae were studied. As expected, neither α-chaconine nor α-solanine had a strong lethal effect on the aphid, but α-chaconine stimulated feeding at low concentrations. Both aglycones were deterrent and lethal at high concentrations and, like α-chaconine and α-tomatine, they delayed the appearance and decreased the number of nymphs.