Surface waxes as a plant defense barrier towards grain aphid

The electrical penetration graph (EPG) method was used to quantify the effect of surface waxes on probing behaviour of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae F. (Hemiptera: Aphididae). The experiments showed that wax removal significantly affected probing behaviour of S. avenae. Generally, the aphids feeding on the plants without wax had a shortened non-probing (EPG-pattern np) and prolonged penetration of peripheral tissues – epidermis and mesophyll (EPG-pattern C). The EPG tests also showed that the three tested extracts of surface waxes from waxy plants RAH 122 were active as aphicides against the grain aphid.