Use of Injected Macrosiphum euphorbiae Aphids as Surrogate Vectors for Transfer of Strawberry Crinkle Virus to Nicotiana Species. Edward S. Sylvester, Professor, Department of Entomological Sciences, University of California, Berkeley 94720. Jean Richardson, and D. C. Stenger. Staff Research Associate, Department of Entomological Sciences, and Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Berkeley 94720. Plant Dis. 71:972-975. Accepted for publication 4 June 1987. Copyright 1987 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-71-0972.

The polyphagous pink and green potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) did not acquire strawberry crinkle virus (SCV) from Alpine strawberry (Fragaria vesca) by feeding. When infected with SCV by injection, it transmitted the virus to Alpine test seedlings and to Nicotiana glutinosa and N. clevelandii. Both Nicotiana species, when infected, developed symptoms, and rhabdoviruslike particles were found in negatively stained leaf-dip preparations examined in the electron microscope. An extract from symptomatic leaves of N. glutinosa was used to inoculate healthy M. euphorbiae, and 5% of the injected aphids transmitted virus to Alpine test seedlings. An electron microscopic examination of a negatively stained preparation of a symptomatic flower petal from one of the infected Alpine seedlings contained rhabdoviruslike particles. Furthermore, Chaetosiphon fragaefolii reared on this plant subsequently transmitted SCV to other test seedlings. Attempts to mechanically transmit the virus from the two susceptible Nicotiana species failed. Comparative data indicated that M. euphorbiae was a somewhat less competent vector than C. fragaefolii when transmitting SCV to Alpine strawberry test seedlings.

Keyword(s): host range.