Different Host Plants Distinctly Influence the Adaptability of <i>Myzus persicae</i> (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Piercing–sucking insects are prominent phloem-feeding insect pests and understanding their feeding behavior and life characteristics plays a crucial role in studying insect host adaptability. The green peach aphid, <i>Myzus persicae</i> (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is one of the most prominent pests in tobacco-growing areas around the world. This study evaluated the adaptability of <i>M. persicae</i> to five host plants: tobacco, radish, Chinese cabbage, <i>Brassica oleracea</i>, and rape using the electropenetrography, age-stage, two-sex life table and population dynamics. The results demonstrated that the feeding behavior of <i>M. persicae</i> differed significantly according to the target hosts. <i>M. persicae</i> exhibited reduced pathway activities and increased phloem sap ingestion on radish, whereas the opposite was observed on Chinese cabbage. Additionally, the mechanical difficulties of <i>M. persicae</i> mouthparts in the probe pathway phase were significantly lower on tobacco and radish than on other host plants. Life table parameters indicated that for <i>M. persicae</i> reared on radish, preadult duration, longevity, and total preoviposition increased significantly and the fecundity was the highest. Furthermore, the net reproductive rate (<i>R</i>₀) increased significantly. The population number of <i>M. persicae</i> on radish after 15 days was significantly higher than that on other hosts, except for tobacco. Although <i>M. persicae</i> can successfully survive on the five plants, our results demonstrated that radish is the optimal host. These results provide significant information for understanding the population dynamics of <i>M. persicae</i> and on different host crops integrated management strategy.