The aim of this experiment was to determine plant responses to Coccus hesperidum L. infestation on two host plants. Groups of five lemon and five fern plants were colonised by various numbers of mobile C. hesperidum instar nymphs. After 6 months, all scale insect individuals were counted on each plant. According to the insect density, the plants were divided into a five-degree series. In all density classes of host plants tested, the infestation of scale insects decreased the chlorophyll and carotenoid content as well as the value of three indicators of photosynthetic activity. The strongest decrease in the analysed pigments was observed for the smallest abundance of insects (firstclass density) in lemon leaves and in second-class density in fern leaves. The strongest reactions of the chlorophyll fluorescence indicators were observed in density classes III and IV in the fern leaves and density classes IV or V in the lemon leaves. The reactions depended on the specific properties of plants and abundance of insects feeding on them.

We examined the effects of feeding by the polyphagous insect Coccus hesperidum on its host plant Nephrolepis biserrata under different intensities of infestation. As an effect of scale insect feeding there were significant changes in the values of parameters reflecting the state of cell membranes. N. biserrata plants reacted to the biotic stress by increasing guaiacol peroxidase activity and decreasing catalase activity. Our data show that these processes play key roles in plant tolerance mechanisms, here the fern's response to insect feeding. The observed complex reaction of N. biserrata testifies to actively proceeding, complex and very often contrasting mechanisms triggered with the aim of neutralizing the effects of biotic stress and enabling normal cell functioning in plants attacked by scale insects.K Ke ey y w wo or rd ds s: : Biotic stress, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, antioxidant enzymes, guaiacol peroxidase, catalase.ACTA BIOLOGICA CRACOVIENSIA Series Botanica 55

At present, Acrobasis advenella (Zinck.) (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) is the most dangerous pest of black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa [Michx.] Elliot). Damaged flower buds may decrease yield, while pest feeding inside fruits causes deterioration in their quality. The aim of the study was to determine and compare the effect of water and acetone plants extracts and essential oils using free choice tests of feeding site of larvae and oviposition of females. The following species were examined: Achillea millefolium, Cymbopogon citratus, Nepeta cataria, Origanum vulgare, Satureja hortensis, Tagetes patula nana, Tanacetum vulgare and Thymus vulgaris. The results showed that plant species had a significant influence on the choice of oviposition and feeding site of A. advenella. Moreover, the type of formulation affected the number of laid eggs. Females did not lay eggs on infructescences treated with acetone extracts. Among the test preparations, the highest percentage larvae and adults of A. advenella was recorded for plants soaked in C. citratus, and therefore it can be a potential attractant for this pest species. The lowest number of eggs and larvae was observed for T. vulgare.

No abstract

The study aimed at comparing the changes in the content of free amino acids, phenolic compounds and the activity of PAL and TAL caused by two piercingsucking arthropods: the grape mealybug (Pseudococcus maritimus Ehrh.) and the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) in the leaves of orchid and strawberry, respectively. The obtained results show that the amino acid content and the ratio of amino acids to phenolic compounds increased in both plant species infested by the mealybug and the mite. However, such response was weakly dependent on changes in activity of the analysed enzymes. The pest feeding affected accumulation of the phenolic compounds, since the induction of the PAL activity in mealybug-infested orchid leaves during the first 5 h of the experiment preceded the increase in phenolic compounds during the first week of insect feeding. Instead, the increased activity of TAL was accompanied by elevated levels of phenolic compounds in the leaves of strawberry infested by mites. Mechanisms of biochemical plant responses induced by infestation of the studied herbivorous arthropods are discussed.

No abstract

Changes in the activity of lysine decarboxylase (LDC), tyrosine decarboxylase (TyDC), and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) within orchid (Phalaenopsis × hybridum 'Innocence') leaves, infested by two mealybug species: Pseudococcus longispinus (Targ. Tozz.) and Pseudococcus maritimus (Ehrh.) were quantified. The pattern of changes was dependent on the insect species and duration of infestation. P. longispinus feeding increased LDC and TyDC activity after one week during the total period of observations. This species inhibited ODC activity after one week but increased later. P. maritimus decreased LDC activity in orchid leaves at all studied terms. TyDC action also went up during the first week of the infestation and was reduced after two weeks, while ODC was decreased after one day and induced later. The mechanism for the participation of analysed amino acid decarboxylases in local and/or systemic steps of orchid responses to mealybug infestation is discussed.

No abstract