TY - JOUR N2 - We studied the effect of qualitative and quantitative variation of saponin content in foliar tissues of four European alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars (Radius, Sapko, Sitel, Radius line 1) on pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris) development, and the effect of aphid infestation on alfalfa saponin content. Aphids (adult apterae, larvae, and adult alatae) were counted on 3-, 6- and 9-month-old plants (before the first, second and third cutting). Thin-layer chromatography was used to detect and estimate the quantity of the following saponins: 3GlcA, 28AraRhaXyl medicagenic acid; 3Glc, 23Ara, 28AraRhaXylApi zanhic acid (zanhic acid tridesmoside); and 3RhaGalGlcA soyasapogenol B (soyasaponin I). Radius, Sapko, and Sitel contained all three saponins but Radius line 1 did not contain zanhic acid tridesmoside or medicagenic acid glycoside. Saponin content was highest in Radius and lowest in Radius line 1. Regardless of the cultivar, saponin content was higher in aphid-infested than uninfested plants. For all sampling dates, aphid numbers were highest on Radius line 1 and lowest on Radius; that is, aphid numbers were inversely related to saponin content. Alfalfa has a herbivoreinduced defense. Saponin levels increase in the foliage of infested alfalfa. Attempts of plant breeders to reduce saponin content in order to increase alfalfa digestibility for livestock might make the plants more susceptible to aphids and other pests. L1 - http://www.czasopisma.pan.pl/Content/81768/PDF/v10182-012-0022-y.pdf L2 - http://www.czasopisma.pan.pl/Content/81768 PY - 2012 IS - No 2 DO - 10.2478/v10182-012-0022-y KW - Saponins KW - Medicago sativa KW - Acyrthosiphon pisum A1 - Łukasik, Iwona A1 - Goławska, Sylwia A1 - Wójcicka, Agnieszka A1 - Sytykiewicz, Hubert PB - Biological Commission of the Polish Academy of Sciences – Cracow Branch VL - vol. 54 DA - 2012 T1 - Relationship Between Saponin Content in Alfalfa and Aphid Development UR - http://www.czasopisma.pan.pl/dlibra/publication/edition/81768 T2 - Acta Biologica Cracoviensia s. Botanica ER -