Abstract:
Aphis gossypii Glover is one of the most important pests of greenhouse cucumber and
pepper in the world and Iran. In this research, life table and biology of A. gossypii were
investigated on cucumber (Cucumis sativus cv. Super Sultan) and pepper (Capsicum
annum cv. Marqueza) in a growth chamber at 25±1°C and 60±5% RH and a photoperiod
of 14 L: 10 D hour. The results showed that developmental time of A. gossypii on pepper
was significantly longer than that on cucumber. The survival rates of A. gossypii on
cucumber and pepper were significantly different based on Kolmogrov-Smirnov test
results. The survival rates (lx
) at the beginning of female emergence were 94 and 66% on
cucumber and pepper, respectively. Life expectancy (ex
) of the newly-born nymphs of A.
gossypii were obtained as 26.37 and 14.4 days on cucumber and pepper, respectively. The
highest age-specific daily fecundity of A. gossypii was at the 5th and 6th days of female
adult age on cucumber and from first to 4th days of female adult life on pepper.
Furthermore, two mathematical models (Analytis and Enkegaard) were fitted to agespecific
fecundity data (mx
). Adult longevity of A. gossypii on cucumber was significantly
higher than that on pepper. The R0
, rm and λ-values of A. gossypii on cucumber were
significantly higher than those on pepper. The cotton aphid exhibited longer mean
generation time (T) on pepper than that on cucumber. According to the growth index and
life table statistics, cucumber was the suitable host plant for A. gossypii.
Keywords: Aphid, Cucumber, Demography, Iran, Pepper
