Opposition against the genetically transformed Potato Leafroll Virus (PLRV) resistant cultivars has forced us to use conventional management tools to reduce virus transmission. Research led by Eigenbrode has found that the aphids are drawn to volatile emissions from infected potatoes. Hairy nightshades (Solanum sarrachoides) are one of the preferred weeds for green peach aphid (GPA), which is considered by far the most effective vector of this virus. With the use of ELISA, Alvarez previously confirmed that GPA can transmit PLRV to hairy nightshade and that “clean” aphids can become viruliferous after feeding on infected nightshades. We decided to investigate whether PLRV infected nightshades would attract GPA and also how this attraction would compare with the one produced by infected potatoes. Viruliferous aphids were placed on healthy potato and nightshade plants for 96h. After two weeks, four plants (potato infected and uninfected; nightshade infected and uninfected) were arranged on a 90 x 90 x 90cm3 cage and a Petri dish containing 25-winged aphids was placed on top of a wooden stick in the middle of the plants. The aphids settling on each plant were counted and accounted for their preference.Results of these experiments are presented together with data regarding the effect of aphid age on virus transmission.
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