title: Occurrence and transmission of mycovirus Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 from dejecta of Thyreophagus corticalis (Acari, Acaridae).
abstract: The natural spread of virus-induced hypovirulence is highly involved in the recovery of blighted chestnut stands and orchards in Italy and in Europe. The potential role of corticolous mites as vectors of hypovirulence in blighted chestnut Castanea sativa (Mill.) stands was pointed out in previous reports. Here, by using RT-PCR, mycovirus Cryphonectria hypovirus (CHV1) was detected in Thyreophagus corticalis mites reared on a hypovirulent strain in monoxenic cultures and in their faecal pellets. Cryphonectria parasitica mycelium derived from mites' dejecta was able to transmit CHV1 to the virulent strain determining its conversion to hypovirulent one. This converted strain induced healing cankers on excised stems, differently from the un-converted virulent strain. Our findings prove the spread of CHV1 by corticolous mites that feed on virus-infected fungus and emphasize their potential role as vectors.
authors.affiliation: CREA-ABP, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria - Research Centre for Agrobiology and Pedology, Via di Lanciola 12/a, 50125 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Mabrouk
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouneb
authors.affiliation: CNR - IPSP, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Via Madonna del Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Tullio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Turchetti
authors.affiliation: CREA-ABP, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria - Research Centre for Agrobiology and Pedology, Via di Lanciola 12/a, 50125 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nannelli
authors.affiliation: CREA-ABP, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria - Research Centre for Agrobiology and Pedology, Via di Lanciola 12/a, 50125 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Pio Federico
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Roversi
authors.affiliation: CREA-ABP, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria - Research Centre for Agrobiology and Pedology, Via di Lanciola 12/a, 50125 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paoli
authors.affiliation: CNR - IPSP, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Via Madonna del Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Danti
authors.affiliation: CREA-ABP, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria - Research Centre for Agrobiology and Pedology, Via di Lanciola 12/a, 50125 Florence, Italy. Electronic address: sauro.simoni@entecra.it.
authors.forename: Sauro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simoni
mesh_terms: D040041:Acaridae / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000821:virology; D004199:Disease Vectors; D029962:Fagaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D000067148:Fungal Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007558:Italy; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
keywords: Biocontrol; Chestnut blight; Corticolous mites; Hypovirulence