Plant–Aphid Interaction Mechanism and Molecular Basis of Aphid Resistance to Insecticides

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 691

Special Issue Editor

State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Interests: aphid photoperiodism; circadian rhythms; insecticide resistance; phenotypic plasticity; integrated pest management; microevolution

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aphids are a group of phloem-feeding insects, with many species exhibiting a complex range of host plants. In recent years, aphids have become increasingly valuable research models for studying insect–plant interactions owing to their intriguing biological characteristics, such as their complex life cycles, the telescope phenomenon, and phenotypic plasticity. Meanwhile, many aphid species are widely recognized as major pests in agriculture and forestry. The control of aphids primarily depends on the application of insecticides. Unfortunately, the long-term and excessive application of such insecticides has resulted in aphids developing varying degrees of resistance to these agents. Elucidating the mechanisms of aphid resistance will provide new insights into the development of aphid management strategies.

This Special Issue invites research employing the molecular mechanism of host plant–aphid interaction and the molecular basis of aphid resistance to insecticides. We welcome both original research articles and comprehensive review papers that focus on the interaction between aphids and host plants, insecticide resistance mechanisms, microevolution, and phenotypic plasticity. All submissions meeting these criteria will be considered for publication in this Special Issue.

Dr. Xiong Peng
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • interaction of aphids and host plants
  • insecticide resistance
  • molecular ecology
  • microevolution
  • host adaptation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

11 pages, 2838 KB  
Article
Intergenerational and Intersexual Differentiation in Respiratory Metabolic Rates of Schlechtendalia chinensis: A Comparison Across Sexuales, Parental Sexuparae, and Progeny Fundatrices
by Shuxia Shao, Bo Jiang, Xin Xu, Zhaohui Shi, Chang Tong and Zixiang Yang
Insects 2025, 16(10), 1015; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16101015 - 1 Oct 2025
Viewed by 497
Abstract
The sexual generation of Schlechtendalia chinensis (Bell) is pivotal for gallnut yield yet cannot feed due to mouthpart degeneration. Could respiratory metabolic rate (RMR) modulation compensate for nutritional deficits? We quantified the RMR across key developmental stages of sexual morphs (including parental sexuparae [...] Read more.
The sexual generation of Schlechtendalia chinensis (Bell) is pivotal for gallnut yield yet cannot feed due to mouthpart degeneration. Could respiratory metabolic rate (RMR) modulation compensate for nutritional deficits? We quantified the RMR across key developmental stages of sexual morphs (including parental sexuparae and progeny fundatrices) using an LI-6400XT portable photosynthesis system equipped with a customized insect respiration chamber (6400-89). All morphotypes exhibited significantly lower nocturnal RMRs compared to their diurnal rates (p < 0.05), while RMRs did not differ significantly between morning (9:00–12:00) and afternoon (14:00–17:00) (p > 0.05). Significant RMR variation occurred among morphotypes: females and sexuparae displayed the lowest rates, fundatrices were intermediate, and males exhibited remarkably elevated rates (2–3 times higher than those of females or sexuparae). Both sexes showed a characteristic RMR trajectory: elevated at birth and declining during early postnatal development, followed by a gradual resurgence that culminated in peak values on postnatal day 8, coinciding with mating. This physiological zenith was immediately succeeded by marked respiratory metabolic downregulation following copulation, with RMRs decreasing substantially during the post-copulatory phase. Our findings demonstrate significant intergenerational and intersexual RMR differentiation. This research addresses critical knowledge gaps in the respiratory metabolism of S. chinensis, is the first to elucidate a nutrient adaptation strategy through respiratory metabolic regulation under non-trophic conditions, and provides actionable insights for optimizing gallnut production in controlled cultivation systems. Full article
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