VIEW ARTICLE

Vector Relations

Transmission of Potato Leafroll Virus from Plants and Artificial Diets by Myzus persicae. J. F. J. M. van den Heuvel, Department of Virology, Binnenhaven 11, 6709 PD Wageningen, Netherlands; T. M. Boerma, and D. Peters. Department of Virology, Binnenhaven 11, 6709 PD Wageningen, Netherlands. Phytopathology 81:150-154. Accepted for publication 30 August 1990. Copyright 1991 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-81-150.

To analyze quantitatively the transmission characteristics of potato leaf-roll virus (PLRV) by Myzus persicae, acquisition from purified virus-containing artificial diets and transmission efficiency were studied. Multiple regression of the data revealed that the amount of viral antigen in the nymphs after feeding on PLRV-containing artificial diets is linearly related to the log₁₀ transformed virus concentration in the diet and the length of the acquisition access period. The percentage of viruliferous nymphs was also linearly related to the logarithm of the virus concentration in the diets. These relationships indicate that the amount of viral antigen present in aphids can be used as a parameter in deducing the amount of virus available in a source for acquisition by aphids. The PLRV concentration in the diets did not influence the length of the median latency period (LP50) in M. persicae. However, the LP50 was affected by intrinsic properties of the virus and the age of the M. persicae nymphs used. PLRV purified from top leaves of Physalis floridana was transmitted with a significantly shorter LP50 than virus purified from bottom leaves. This difference was also observed when aphids acquired the virus from top or bottom leaves, hence, showing that purification did not affect the relative transmissibility of the virus. After acquiring purified PLRV from an artificial diet, 1-day-old M. persicae nymphs were more efficient in transmitting the virus than 4-day-old nymphs. To obtain 50% viru-liferous nymphs, the virus concentration needed in the diet was significantly lower for young nymphs than for older ones. Furthermore, the LP50 of the virus was significantly shorter in the younger nymphs.