Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
BioControl, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a polyphagous pest species, causes significant economic losses in a wide range of agricultural crops worldwide. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can indirectly shape plant-insect interactions through a variety of means, including increasing nutrient uptake, enhancing physiological resistance, and modulating defense mechanisms. In this study, in order to evaluate the effects of AMF on the life table parameters of M. persicae, experiments were conducted using pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants in three treatment groups: non mycorrhizal (control), seed inoculated with mycorrhiza, and seedling inoculated with mycorrhiza. The results revealed that aphids feeding on control plants exhibited significantly higher values in key demographic parameters, including intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproductive rate (R0), finite rate of increase (λ) and fecundity, compared to those in both AMF-treated groups. These findings suggest that AMF applications can indirectly influence aphid biology and that plant-mycorrhiza interactions may play a crucial role in shaping insect population dynamics. Within the context of integrated pest management (IPM), the influence of AMF on host plant suitability and defense systems could serve as an important tool in developing targeted and environmentally friendly pest control strategies.