Host Suitability and Feeding Behavior of Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel and Pentalonia caladii van der Goot (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Various Banana Cultivars

Abstract

Banana aphids (Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel) and taro aphids (Pentalonia caladii van der Goot) have been reported as banana pests and known as vectors for Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). Host suitability and feeding behavior of P. nigronervosa and P. caladii will influence their potential to transmit BBTV. This study aimed to determine the most suitable banana cultivars for banana and taro aphids and to analyze the feeding behavior of banana and taro aphids using an electrical penetration graph (EPG). The experiments were conducted using a completely randomized design with aphid species (P. nigronervosa and P. caladii) and banana cultivars (‘Mas Kirana’, ‘Klutuk’, ‘Barangan Jumbo Merah’, ‘Ambon Kuning’, ‘Tanduk’, and ‘Kepok Kuning’) as the treatments. Each treatment was replicated three times, and each replication consisted of 12 plants. The host suitability test was conducted in the greenhouse. Five adult aphids were infested on each banana cultivar, then observation of aphid population was done every day for 30 days. Feeding behavior of aphids with EPG were conducted in the laboratory and observations of aphid feeding behavior were made every 10 hours. Based on the development of aphid population it is known that the most suitable banana cultivars for P. nigronervosa and P. caladii are ‘Barangan Jumbo Merah’ and ‘Ambon Kuning’, meanwhile unsuitable banana cultivars are ‘Klutuk’ and ‘Kepok Kuning’. The highest feeding activity of P. nigronervosa was observed on three banana cultivars, i.e. ‘Mas Kirana’, ‘Barangan Jumbo Merah’, and ‘Ambon Kuning’; while P. caladii only on two cultivars, i.e. ‘Barangan Jumbo Merah’, and ‘Ambon Kuning’. P. nigronervosa and P. caladii exhibited low feeding activity on cv. Klutuk and cv. Kepok Kuning. The information on specific banana cultivars that support aphid population development is crucial for effective management of banana bunchy top disease.