Open AccessEffect of Temperature, Vector Life Stage, and Plant Access Period on Transmission of Banana bunchy top virus to Banana
Author(s) -
Mandy D. Anhalt,
Rodrigo P. P. Almeida
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
phytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.264
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1943-7684
pISSN - 0031-949X
DOI - 10.1094/phyto-98-6-0743
Subject(s) - biology , aphid , aphididae , vector (molecular biology) , nymph , inoculation , transmission (telecommunications) , plant virus , horticulture , virology , botany , virus , pest analysis , homoptera , biochemistry , engineering , gene , electrical engineering , recombinant dna
The study of the transmission biology of insect-borne plant viruses is important to develop disease control practices. We characterized the transmission of a nanovirus, Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), by its aphid vector Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel (Hemiptera, Aphididae) with respect to temperature, vector life stage, and plant access time. Adult aphids transmitted BBTV more efficiently than third instar nymphs at all temperatures tested. Adult aphids transmitted the virus more efficiently at 25 and 30°C than at 20°C, but temperature had no impact on transmission efficiency by nymphs. By decoupling the relationship between temperature and aphid BBTV acquisition or inoculation, we determined that temperature affected inoculation events more strongly than acquisition. Longer plant access periods increased viral acquisition and inoculation efficiencies in a range of 60 min to 24 h. Both BBTV acquisition and inoculation efficiencies peaked after 18 h of plant access period. We also show that BBTV transmission by P. nigronervosa requires a latent period. Our results demonstrate that vector transmission of BBTV is affected by temperature, vector life stage, and plant access period.