Effect of Previous Exposure to Hydroxamic Acids in Probing Behavior of Aphid Sitobion fragariae on Wheat Seedlings

We hypothesized that aphids after previous exposure to hydroxamic acids (Hx), a family of secondary plant compounds deleterious to aphids, are able to reduce their subsequent exposure to them. This hypothesis was tested by evaluating the time to produce salivation into a sieve element (SSE) by the aphid Sitobion fragariae on seedlings of two wheat cultivars of Triticum aestivum differing in their concentration of Hx. The total time to produce a first SSE was significantly longer in the high-Hx cultivar; however, the subsequent, second SSE (first SSE after interruption of probing) in this cultivar was significantly reduced, reaching the level observed in the low-Hx plants. Therefore, a strategy to reduce the exposure to secondary compounds was observed only in the second SSE in high-Hx plants. When the experimental plant was replaced by a new unattacked plant after the first SSE, aphids did not change the behavior described, thus excluding an aphid-induced plant susceptibility. The number of cell punctures and accumulated duration was not affected by previous exposure to Hx, either in low or high Hx cultivars. Total time and pathway time but not cell punctures, seem to be the variables affected by previous exposure to Hx.