Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
AEA's Shelley Katz explores how Amino Acids are related to pest resistance with Dr. Painter.
1. Phloem feeders (aphids, whiteflies, scale, psyllids, mealy bugs etc) are feeding primarily on sugars and amino acids in the sap.
2. The growth and reproductive success of phloem feeders depends on how much nitrogen is available
3. Nitrogen fertilization increases amino acids in phloem sap
More from supporting sources:
“The growth and fecundity of phytophagous insects are generally limited by nitrogen, in two ways: the quantity of nitrogen, i.e. the total amount of nitrogen available; and the quality of nitrogen, or its composition.”
- From "Phloem-sap feeding by animals: problems and solutions" by A.E. Douglas
“Enhanced N fertilization increases the amino acid concentration in phloem sap and elevates the N/C ratio.”
- From "How aphids decide what is good for them: experiments to test aphid feeding behaviour on Tanacetum vulgare (L.) using different nitrogen regimes" Heike Nowak et al. Oecologia.
“Numerous studies have shown that the growth, reproduction and survival of phytophagous insects are positively correlated with the nitrogen content in their food (McNeill and Southwood 1978, Mattson 1980, Scriber and Slansky 1981) or with nitrogen content in the soil (Tingey and Singh 1980).“
- From Fageria, N. K. & Scriber, J. M. (2001). The role of essential nutrients and minerals in insect resistance in crop plants. Pages 23–54 in Insects and Plant Defence Dynamics.
AEA's Shelley Katz explores how Amino Acids are related to pest resistance with Dr. Painter.
1. Phloem feeders (aphids, whiteflies, scale, psyllids, mealy bugs etc) are feeding primarily on sugars and amino acids in the sap.
2. The growth and reproductive success of phloem feeders depends on how much nitrogen is available
3. Nitrogen fertilization increases amino acids in phloem sap
More from supporting sources:
“The growth and fecundity of phytophagous insects are generally limited by nitrogen, in two ways: the quantity of nitrogen, i.e. the total amount of nitrogen available; and the quality of nitrogen, or its composition.”
- From "Phloem-sap feeding by animals: problems and solutions" by A.E. Douglas
“Enhanced N fertilization increases the amino acid concentration in phloem sap and elevates the N/C ratio.”
- From "How aphids decide what is good for them: experiments to test aphid feeding behaviour on Tanacetum vulgare (L.) using different nitrogen regimes" Heike Nowak et al. Oecologia.
“Numerous studies have shown that the growth, reproduction and survival of phytophagous insects are positively correlated with the nitrogen content in their food (McNeill and Southwood 1978, Mattson 1980, Scriber and Slansky 1981) or with nitrogen content in the soil (Tingey and Singh 1980).“
- From Fageria, N. K. & Scriber, J. M. (2001). The role of essential nutrients and minerals in insect resistance in crop plants. Pages 23–54 in Insects and Plant Defence Dynamics.
