An in vitro coculture system has been established to study interactions between roots and aphids. Eight aphid species (Aphis spiraecola P., Trama rara M., Macrosiphum euphorbiae S., Rhopalosiphum padi L., Sitobion avenae E, Rhopalosiphum maidis E, Metopolophium dirhodum W., and Pemphigus populivenae E) were reared on six species of hairy root cultures, Carthamus tinctorius L. cv N10, Tagetes patula L., Trichosanthes cucumerina L. var anguina, Hyoscyamus muticus L., Nicotiana tabacum L., and Beta vulgaris L. subsp, vulgaris. All species of aphids survived on root cultures for at least 2 d. Three cocuhures have been maintained aseptically for periods ranging from 2 too. to over 2 yr. The coculture ofR. padi on C. tinctorius cv N10 (N10-Rp) was used to study morphological and biochemical responses of roots under aphid herbivory.Aphid he,'bivory caused browning of cultures, reduced root vegetative growth, and increased production of polyacetylenes in C. tinctorius cv NIO roots. Our results suggest that this coculture system may improve our understanding of interactions between aphids and plant roots.
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