Volume: 4, 2025
4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: E028
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.E028
Published online: 9 April 2025
ICDSUPL, 4, E028 (2025)
Mortality of aphids Macrosiphum rosae after being exposed to the bacteria Bacillus subtilis
Dominika Dubel1*, Martyna Materowska1, Tomasz Durak1, Anna Michalik2, Roma Durak1
1 Faculty of Biology and Nature Protection, University of Rzeszów, Rejtana 16c, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
2 Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
* Corresponding author: wdominikad@dokt.ur.edu.pl
Abstract
Aphids can be dangerous pests of many plants used in agriculture. Because of that scientists look for new, nonchemical, ways to protect plants from them. In the past scientists proved that bacteria from the Bacillus genus caused higher mortality in butterfly caterpillars and dipteran larvae. In our research we decided to test how exposure to this bacteria affects aphid mortality. For the experiment we have chosen aphids belonging to the species Macrosiphum rosae. Those aphids have a worldwide distribution – wingless females feed on roses and other plants from the Rosaceae family. They can develop quickly and congregate around tips of shoots and buds of flowers. During feeding they damage tips and buds, which may cause roses to develop abnormally and may slow down their growth. During our experiments we tested how aphids belonging species M. rosae would react when exposed to five different strains of bacteria B. subtilis. For this experiment we have chosen 5 strains. Our control samples were sprayed with pure water. We also used three different concentrations of bacteria solution. Aphids were moved on the plants a day before the experiment. We put 100 aphids on every plant. Then on the day of the experiment plants with aphids on them were sprayed with the bacteria solution. Then we counted the number of alive and dead aphids on every plant for the next ten days. Our experiment proved that B. subtilis causes higher mortality rates to the aphids that were exposed to it. All B. subtilis strains caused higher mortality rates, but three of them – have caused the highest mortality. We recorded the highest mortality rates during the first few days of the experiment. There was no clear correlation between concentration of bacteria solution and mortality. In conclusion, our research proved that aphids exposed to the bacteria B. subtilis were characterized by higher mortality rates compared to the control.
This project was financed by the Polish National Science Centre grant 2022/47/B/NZ9/03472.
Keywords: aphids, bacillus, mortality, bacteria
How to cite
D. Dubel, M. Materowska, T. Durak, A. Michalik, R. Durak, 2025. Mortality of aphids Macrosiphum rosae after being exposed to the bacteria Bacillus subtilis. In: 4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.E028