Comparative analysis of insect resistance response of ten common Aster varieties in the Three Rivers Source Region under damage by Tephritis angustipennis (Diptera: Tephritidae); Lijun Zhang et al.

Tephritis angustipennis (TAN) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is an important seed predator of plants in the Asteraceae family, posing substantial threats to the growth and development of Aster. The application of resistant varieties can provide effective, economical, and eco-friendly management strategies for pest management. We investigated the population density and plant damage of TAN on Aster at different levels. And assessed the differences in resistance of 10 varieties of Aster when the TAN damaged on one high resistance (HR) variety (Aster altaicus (MQAA), four medium resistance (MR) varieties ((Aster asteroids (DRAA), Aster flaccidus (QLAF), Aster tongolensis (BMAT), Aster poliothamnus (MQAP)), two medium susceptibility (MS) varieties (Aster diplostephioides (QLAD), Aster souliei (DRAS)), and three high susceptibility (HS) varieties (A. diplostephioides (MQAD), Aster yunnanensis (MQAY), Aster farreri (MQAF)). Seven antioxidant enzyme (catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), trypsin inhibitor (TI), chymotrypsin inhibitor (CI)) activities and four toxic secondary metabolites (tannins (TN), flavonoids (FN), malondialdehyde (MDA), total phenols (TP)) contents were differentially elevated after attacking by TAN. Additionally, compared to MS and HS varieties, the CAT, POD, SOD, PAL, PPO, TI, CI activities and the TN, TP, FN contents in HR and MR varieties are significantly higher. Therefore, the resistant varieties suffered lower TAN damage by elevating secondary metabolite contents and antioxidant activities. Meanwhile, related analyses showed that POD, SOD, PAL, TI activities, and MDA, TN, FN contents were the main factors for insect resistance in different Aster cultivars and resistance levels. This study will help to assess the effects of pest feeding on plant resistance indicators at different times, and provide insights into the development of control and management strategies for the effective management of this pest.
In the document collection, Table 1 shows the plant damage rate of 10 varieties. Table 2 shows the insect population density on each plant in different damage periods. Table 3 shows the original assay data of 7 protective enzymes and 4 secondary metabolites.