Interactions between green peach aphid Myzus persicae, and non-necrotic and necrotic variants of potato virus Y (PVY), and their influence on PVY acquisition and transmission

Variants of Potato virus Y (Potyviridae: Potyvirus) are classified as non-necrotic (PVY O) and necrotic (PVY NTN) based on their ability to induce veinal necrosis in tobacco. The necrotic variants are also capable of inducing tuber necrosis in potato and causing considerable economic losses. The incidence of necrotic variants has been increasing over the last few years in the US as well as in Europe. The precise reasons for the increased incidence of necrotic variants are not known. We tested green peach aphid’s (Myzus persicae, Aphididae: Hemiptera) ability to acquire and transmit the PVY variants either singly and or in combination. Preliminary results indicate that the aphids can transmit all the variants when presented singly and or in combination. However, the aphids transmitted the necrotic variant (PVY NTN) more efficiently than the others. This may potentially explain the increased incidence of necrotic variants in recent years.