VIEW ARTICLE

Low-Level Jet Winds, Aphid Vectors, Local Weather, and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus Outbreaks. Jack R. Wallin, Regional Research Pathologist, Crops Research Division, ARS, USDA, Ames, Iowa 50010; Daniel V. Loonan, Research Technician, Crops Research Division, ARS, USDA, Ames, Iowa 50010. Phytopathology 61:1068-1070. Accepted for publication 6 August 1970. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-61-1068.

Aphids (greenbugs and English grain aphids) that transmit barley yellow dwarf (BYD) virus were studied in Iowa in relation to low-level jet winds from Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Usually, winged aphids appeared in small grain plots after each jet wind, and yellow dwarf symptoms were noted about 3 weeks later. Early planted cereals sustained the least damage from BYD. Key factors in predicting yellow dwarf outbreaks are knowledge of viruliferous vector population levels in the Southern Plains states, the incidence of low-level jet winds blowing from the Southern Plains states, and weather conditions prevailing in the small grain after aphid fall-out.