Rice Root Aphid, Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominalis, a Vector of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus in Illinois, and the Disease Complex. H. Jedlinski, Research Plant Pathologist, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801. Plant Dis. 65:975-978. Accepted for publication 22 January 1981. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1981. DOI: 10.1094/PD-65-975.

The rice root aphid, Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominalis, overwintered as viviparae on underground parts of Vermillion wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Hudson barley (Hordeum vulgare) at Urbana, IL, under relatively stable temperatures and transmitted the barley yellow dwarf virus. Hudson barley, Michigan Amber wheat, and Dubois oats (Avena sativa) were good virus sources and indicator test plants. In parallel tests, R. rufiabdominalis and R. padi were equally able to transmit two vector nonspecific isolates. Both aphids, however, failed to transmit the Macrosiphum avenae specific virus isolate. Like the other two isolates, this one was readily transmissible by Sitobion avenae. This brings the total number of aphid species known to be vectors of barley yellow dwarf virus to 18.

Keyword(s): epidemiology, winter barley.