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Differential attraction ofDrosophila melanogaster Meig. to potato tissue infected with two varieties ofErwinia carotovora

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Abstract

Experiments were conducted to determine ifDrosophila melanogaster Meig. was differentially attracted to decaying potato tissue infected withErwinia carotovora var.carotovora as compared toE. C. var.atroseptica because these insects transmit each bacterium at a different rate in nature. The results of olfactometer tests demonstrated that potato tissue infected with the two varieties of the organism do not differ in their attractiveness toD. melanogaster; also, that attraction of these flies to healthy potato tissue was not significantly different than the attraction to infected tissue.

Resumen

Se condujeron experimentos para determinar siDrosophila melanogaster Meig. es atraída diferencialmente a tejidos de papa infectados conErwinia carotovora var.carotovora en comparación conE.C. var.atroseptica ya que estos insectos tienen distintas tasas de transmissión para cada una de estas bacterias en la naturaleza. Pruebas de olfatómetro demonstraron que tejido de papa infectado con cada una de las dos variedades del microorganismo no se diferenciaron en su atractividad aD. melanogaster; ademas, la atractividad de tejido sano de papa no fue significativamente distinto al de tejido infectado.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Entomology, Colorado State University, 80523, Fort Collins, Colorado

    J. W. Brewer (Professor)

  2. Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Colorado State University, 80523, Fort Collins, Colorado

    M. D. Harrison (Professor)

  3. Field and Lab Inc., 80523, Fort Collins, Colorado

    J. A. Winston (Entomologist)

Authors
  1. J. W. Brewer
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  2. M. D. Harrison
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  3. J. A. Winston
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Additional information

We wish to acknowledge the assistant of Mr. Fred Stahl in conducting some of the laboratory experiments.

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Brewer, J.W., Harrison, M.D. & Winston, J.A. Differential attraction ofDrosophila melanogaster Meig. to potato tissue infected with two varieties ofErwinia carotovora . American Potato Journal 57, 219–224 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02854234

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02854234

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