VIEW ARTICLE

Curly Top Viruliferous and Nonviruliferous Leafhopper Feeding Effects upon Tomato Seedlings. Donald E. Gardner, Graduate Assistant, Department of Botany, Utah State University, Logan 84321; Orson S. Cannon, Professor, Department of Botany, Utah State University, Logan 84321. Phytopathology 62:183-186. Accepted for publication 31 August 1971. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-62-183.

Seedlings of Lycopersicon esculentum and L. peruvianum var. dentatum exhibited sudden wilting and death after attack by curly top viruliferous or nonviruliferous leafhoppers. Although reactions between treatments appeared identical qualitatively, significantly greater numbers of seedlings were affected by viruliferous than by nonviruliferous leafhopper feeding. Microscopic examination revealed death and degeneration of cells of both emerged and nonemerged secondary root tips and of primary root tips. This reaction was evident in plants of both leafhopper-fed treatments. In addition, some degree of cortical collapse was apparent in mature regions of primary roots, although this abnormality appeared distinct from the effects on young root tip cells. Wilting and death were attributed primarily to the effects of feeding, which possibly involved a leafhopper-secreted toxin. The virus may have intensified this reaction through predisposition of seedlings to feeding effects, or through stimulation of increased toxin secretion by the insects.