VIEW ARTICLE

Vector Relations

Mineral Oil Interferes with Retention of Tobacco Etch Potyvirus in the Stylets of Myzus persicae. R. Y. Wang, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546; T. P. Pirone, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546. Phytopathology 86:820-823. Accepted for publication 30 April 1996. Copyright 1996 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-86-820.

Light microscopic autoradiography was used to study the mode of action of mineral oil in reducing transmission of tobacco etch potyvirus (TEV) by Myzus persicae. The ability of aphids to transmit ¹²⁵I-labeled TEV virions was abolished or drastically reduced by probing of mineral oil-sprayed membranes or leaves prior to virus acquisition and mineral oil-sprayed leaves after TEV acquisition. The lack of TEV transmission correlated with inability to retain labeled virions in the stylets. TEV transmission and retention of label in the stylets were closely correlated for control aphids. Our results support the hypothesis that mineral oil interferes with the retention of virions in aphid stylets.