SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF FLAG LEAVES OF 2 WINTER-WHEAT CULTIVARS INFESTED BY ROSE-GRAIN APHID, METOPOLOPHIUM-DIRHODUM (WALKER)

Physiological characteristics and amino acid metabolism of Rag leaves of the winter wheat cultivars 'Mironovskaya 808' and 'Slavia' infested by Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) were investigated under greenhouse conditions. Artificial infestation (three aphids per leaf) from the b eginning of anthesis to the mid-milk stage of plant development signif icantly reduced leaf area and water content, and greatly increased the sum of free amino acids. Compared to noninfested leaves, infestation by aphids increased the: levels of 10 amino acids, while those of nine were decreased. In noninfested leaves, amino acids connected with the Krebs cycle prevailed, in infested leaves proline and arginine were p redominant. Several difference between cultivars in response to aphid infestation were observed.