The pattern of cell punctures in the electrical penetration graph was studied from the start of a probe leading to the first phloem phase by the aphid Sitobion fragarine (Walker) (Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae) on two cultivars of the wheat, Triticum aestivum L., differing in hydroxamic acid concentration. In addition, the spatial arrangement of cells in the leaf of the host plant was histologically observed and the number of cells between the epidermis and phloem counted. The results suggest a feeding deterrent effect of hydroxamic acids and a constant styler puncturing activity into plant cells.
Latent toxoplasmosis has been previously found to cause behavioural and personality changes in humans, which are specific for each gender. Here we tested the stress hypothesis of these gender differences based on the assumption that latent toxoplasmosis causes long-term subliminal stress. In line with this hypothesis, the gender difference will appear specifically in situations with interpersonal context because in contrast to the typical individualistic coping style of men, women have a tendency to express elevated prosocial behaviour under stress. Altogether 295 biology students (29/191 females and 27/104 males infected by T. gondii) played a modified version of the Dictator Game and the Trust Game. As predicted, a gender difference in the effect of latent toxoplasmosis was found for the measure of reciprocal altruism in the Trust Game (p=0.016), but both genders appeared less generous when infected in the Dictator Game modified to minimize social connotation (p=0.048).