Chemical and organic fertilizers affect physiological performance and antioxidant activities in Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

Myzus persicae is a widespread and polyphagous insect that causes severe damages to
hundreds of host plants. In the current study, zinc sulfate and vermicompost as chemical and organic fertilizers, were added into cultural soil of Capsicum annuum to determine their effects on physiology and antioxidant activities of M. persicae. The aphids reared on zinc sulfate-treated culture showed the highest activities of general protease, trypsin, cathepsins, carboxypeptidase and lipase but activities of chymotrypsin and aminopeptidase were the highest in vermicompost-treated culture. Although activities of α-amylase in the fertilizer-treated cultures were higher than control but activities of α- and β-glucosideases showed the highest values in zinc sulfate and vermicompost treatments, respectively. Aspartate aminotransferase and γ-glutamyl transferase showed the highest activity in the aphids reared on the vermicompost-treated culture but alanine aminotransferase activity got the lowest value in fertilizer-treated cultures. Activities of aldolase and lactate dehydrogenase in the fertilizer-treated aphids were higher than those of control and vermicompost-treated aphids, but alkaline phosphatase showed the lower activity although activity of acid phosphatase decreased in vermicompost- treated aphids compared to other treatments. Activities of antioxidant enzymes were found to be the highest in the aphids fed on vermicompost-treated culture including glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and ascorbate oxidase but catalase in vermicompost treatment had lower activity than control and zinc-sulfate treatments. Also, malondialdehyde and RSSR/RSH ratio demonstrated higher values in the aphids fed on zinc sulfate- and vermicompost-treated plants than control, respectively. Finally, the amounts of glycogen and triglyceride revealed the highest values in
zinc sulfate-treated plants compared to other treatments. These results indicated significant effects of fertilizers on physiology and antioxidant activity of M. persicae which are important to be considered in integrated pest management programs.