Effect of petroleum-derived substances on life history traits of bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi L.) and on the growth and chemical composition of winter wheat

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of various petroleum-derived substances (PDSs), namely petrol, diesel fuel, and spent engine oil, on life history traits of the bird cherry-oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi L., and on the growth and chemical composition of its host plant—winter wheat Triticum aestivum L. Each substance was tested separately, using two concentrations (9 and 18 g kg−1). Plants were cultivated in both control and contaminated soils. In early October 2013, soil was contaminated and after 1 week, winter wheat seeds, ‘Batuta’ cultivar, were sown. In early June 2014, observations of the effect of petroleum-derived substances on traits of three successive generations of aphids were conducted. Aphids were inoculated separately on leaves using cylindrical cages hermetically closed on both sides. Contamination of aphid occurred through its host plant. Results showed that all of the applied petroleum-derived substances have a generally adverse effect on the developmental parameters in aphids, resulting in the decrease of its fecundity, shortening its average life span, and most often lowering of the population intrinsic growth rate. PDSs caused the limitation of growth in wheat plants; whereas, changes in nutrient contents and heavy metals depended on the part of the plant analysed, the substance applied, and on its dose. The negative relationships between the contents of both some macro-elements (Ca, K, P) and heavy metals (Mn, Cd, Cu, and Zn) and the developmental parameters of particular generations of R. padi were observed. The high susceptibility of R. padi to the presence of PDSs in the substrate for the host plant should be emphasised—the clear-cut changes in the life span and fecundity, with relatively small changes in the chemical composition of the plant, constitute an evident indication that the developmental parameters of aphids have the potential for the use as bio-indicator to evaluate the state of the environment contaminated by PDSs.

Soil Pollution by Petroleum-Derived Substances and its Bioremediation: The Effect on Aphis fabae Scop. Infestation and Antioxidant Response in Vicia faba L.

“…The lower doses of PDSs (6 g kg −1 ) result in the reduction of fecundity by nearly 25%, but they do not affect the lifespan of wingless A. fabae females [40]. The adverse effects of PDSs upon the length of life, fecundity, and the population intrinsic growth rate were also confirmed with respect to Rhopalosiphum padi L. aphid [19]. In the experiment presented here, there were no significant effects of any of the PDSs applied upon the duration of the pre-reproduction period, or upon the remaining developmental parameters of two subsequent generations of black bean aphids.…”

“…The PDSs often contribute to the weakening of growth and development of cultivated plants, and they modify the contents of heavy metals, and macro-and micro-components in these plants, which can result in the worsening of the pest forage quality (decreased content of phosphorus, nitrogen, protein, and chlorophyll) [18,19,44,45], and this can also be associated with the modification of the process of colonising the cultivars. The adverse effects of PDSs can also be associated with the migration of harmful substances to the aboveground parts of plants, which are principal places of foraging by aphids [39].…”

The Long-Term Effect of Petroleum-Derived Substances and Their Bioremediation on the Host Plant (Vicia faba L.) and a Herbivore (Sitona spp.)

“…The adverse impact of petroleum and PDSs on plants growing in contaminated soil has been confirmed by several authors [21][22][23][24][25][26]. Studies pertaining to this issue, however, were conducted a short time after the emergence of contamination.…”

“…The effects of PDSs on the physical and chemical properties of soil, as well as on the morphological features and chemical composition of plants growing in contaminated soil, are relatively well known. Plant growth is weakened by PDSs [21][22][23][24][25][26], while changes in the contents of nutrients and other elements (e.g., heavy metals) depend on the plant species, PDSs, and type of analyzed component [27][28][29].…”

Sewage Sludge as a Tool in Limiting the Content of Trace Elements in Avena sativa L. on the Soil Polluted with Diesel Oil

“…The elements absorbed by plants from the soil are mostly retained in the roots [ 12 , 22 ]. Constant emission of trace elements from various sources causes a continual increase in their content of soil and in air, in consequence being responsible for their excessive migration to aboveground parts of plants [ 23 , 24 ].…”