title: Aphid Transmission of the Ontario Isolate of Plum Pox Virus.
abstract: Utilization of timed virus acquisition access probes in studies of plum pox virus (PPV) transmission by aphids demonstrated that endemic species transmitted the virus readily from plum, Prunus domestica (L.) Batsch; peach, P. persica (L.); or dwarf flowering almond, P. glandulosa Thunberg., to peach seedlings. The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), was shown to be the most efficient vector. Acquisition of virus by green peach aphids from infected peach leaves resulted in 18-28% infected peach seedlings, while aphids previously fed on infected leaves of plum transferred virus to 36% of peach seedlings. Although the spirea aphid, Aphis spiraecola (Patch), was a less efficient vector than M. persicae it is perhaps more important for the spread of PPV due to its greater abundance and occurrence earlier in the season when peach trees are thought to be more susceptible to infection. Virus transmission rates varied depending on the virus source and healthy test plant species. In contrast to many previous studies, aphid inoculation of the experimental host Nicotiana benthamiana Domin occurred at a low rate, never exceeding 4%. Acquisition of PPV by M. persicae from infected peach fruit was greatly reduced compared with acquisition from leaves. The results of this research indicate that the Ontario isolate of PPV-D is readily transmissible by aphids to peach and natural spread of the virus needs to be considered in future management or eradication programs.
authors.affiliation: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Box 5000, 4200 Hwy. 97, Summerland, BC, V0H 1Z0, Canada. tom.lowery@agr.gc.ca.
authors.forename: D Thomas
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Lowery
authors.affiliation: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre, 4902 Victoria Ave. N, Box 6000, Vineland Station, ON, L0R 2E0, Canada.
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Vickers
authors.affiliation: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre, 4902 Victoria Ave. N, Box 6000, Vineland Station, ON, L0R 2E0, Canada.
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bittner
authors.affiliation: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre, 4902 Victoria Ave. N, Box 6000, Vineland Station, ON, L0R 2E0, Canada.
authors.forename: Lorne W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Stobbs
authors.affiliation: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, National Environmental Health Program, Invertebrate Biodiversity, K. W. Neatby Bldg., 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Foottit
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005638:Fruit / Q000821:virology; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology; D009864:Ontario; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D017801:Plum Pox Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D027861:Prunus / Q000821:virology*
keywords: plum pox virus, aphid, transmission, Prunus, N. benthamiana