Ecological Characteristics of the Lentil Strain of Pea Seedborne Mosaic Virus. J. J. Goodell, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331. R. O. Hampton, Research Plant Pathologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331. Plant Dis. 68:148-150. Accepted for publication 18 August 1983. 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, 1984. DOI: 10.1094/PD-68-148.

The seed and aphid transmission characteristics of the lentil strain of pea seedborne mosaic virus (PSbMV-L) were examined and commercial lentil fields surveyed for the presence of this virus. PSbMV-L was seed-transmitted at rates of 5 and 0.5%, respectively, in Lens culinaris ‘Tekoa’ and Pisum sativum ‘Tempter’. PSbMV-L was present as a seedborne contaminant in seeds of the USDA lentil plant introduction (germ plasm) accessions and in seed-increase plots at levels as high as 16.7%. Single pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) transmitted PSbMV-L at frequencies of 50–90% after both short and long acquisition access periods. Aphid transmisson rates decreased with increasing temperature. PSbMV-L was not detected in surveys of commercial lentil fields but the presence of PSbMV-L as a seedborne contaminant of lentil germ plasm accessions constitutes a potential threat to U.S. lentil production.