Interaction between the Bird Cherry-Oat Aphid () and Stagonospora Nodorum Blotch () on Wheat.

Wheat plants are under constant attack by multiple pests and diseases. Until now, there are no studies on the interaction between the aphid and the plant pathogenic fungus causal agent of septoria nodorum blotch (SNB) on wheat. Controlled experiments were conducted to determine: (i) The preference and reproduction of aphids on inoculated and non-inoculated wheat plants and (ii) the effect of prior aphid infestation of wheat plants on SNB development. The preference and reproduction of aphids was determined by releasing female aphids on inoculated (SNB+) and non-inoculated (SNB-) wheat leaves. The effect of prior aphid infestation of wheat plants on SNB development was determined by inoculating on aphid-infested (Aphid+) and aphid free (Aphid-) wheat plants. Higher numbers of aphids moved to and settled on the healthy (SNB-) leaves than inoculated (SNB+) leaves, and reproduction was significantly higher on SNB- leaves than on SNB+ leaves. Aphid infestation of wheat plants predisposed the plants to infection and colonization. These results are important to understand the interactions between multiple pests in wheat and hence how to develop new strategies in future integrated pest management (IPM).