Development and application of electrical penetration graph （EPG） technique

Abstract

Electrical penetration graph （EPG） is a technique that can record the bioelectrical signal movement characterized by the mouthpart behavior of piercing-sucking mouthpart insects in different tissues of host plants. It is employed to study the penetration （feeding） behavior and virus-transmission behavior of herbivorous piercing-sucking mouthpart insects as well as the resistance mechanisms of host plants to insects and the bioelectrieal response of host plants that are penetrated by herbivorous piercing sucking mouthpart insects. This paper summarizes the develop ment history, rationale, wave pattern features and biological significance of EPG technique, The problems and pros- pects for future applications of EPG are also discussed.