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Transmission of an Eriophyid-borne Wheat Pathogen by Aceria tulipae. L. R. Nault, Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster 44691; W. E. Styer, Technical Assistant, Department of Entomology, The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster 44691. Phytopathology 60:1616-1618. Accepted for publication 8 June 1970. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-60-1616.

An investigation was made of the transmission of a disease agent, similar to the wheat spot mosaic virus of Slykhuis, by its eriophyid mite vector, Aceria tulipae. This agent is referred to as the wheat spot chlorosis pathogen (WSCP). All stages of the mite, first and second instars and adults transmitted WSCP when the pathogen was acquired by mites during nymphal stages. But when adults were given 48-hr access to excised infected leaves, none of 240 mites transmitted WSCP to test plants. Comparable groups of nymphs transmitted WSCP to 23 of 24 test plants. In other tests, nymphs acquired and transmitted WSCP when given 1-hr access to excised infected leaves. None of 175 mites which developed from eggs taken from diseased wheat transmitted WSCP, indicating that the pathogen is not transovarially passed. Second instar mites continued to transmit WSCP after a molt with no reduction in transmission rate when compared to nonmolted second instars. The rate of transmission of the pathogen by single adults maintained on an artificial medium declined from 30.7% for mites at 0 days to 7.3% after 8 days. No mites transmitted after 10 days on the medium.