Differential transmission of Triticum mosaic virus and its impact on the biology of the wheat curl mite (Aceria tosichella K.)

Wheat is an important food grain worldwide, and it is the primary dryland crop in the western Great Plains. The wheat virus complex (wheat streak mosaic, high plains, and triticum mosaic viruses) is the second largest cause of yield loss in winter wheat production in the Great Plains over a 20 year period. Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) was only recently identified in Kansas in 2006. Currently, three colonies of WCM have been characterized by differential responses to mite resistant genes (biotypes) in wheat and differential transmission of high plains virus. A study was designed to determine TriMV transmission for these various wheat curl mite colonies. Avirulent WCM from each colony were reared on TriMV infected and virus-free wheat plants. For each source plant (15 replicates), individual mites were transferred to 10 separate test plants and virus transmission determined via ELISA assay. Results indicate that TriMV was effectively transmitted by only one of the three wheat curl mite colonies. An additional study was conducted to determine the impact of TriMV on the biology of the WCM. Avirulent wheat curl mites were transferred from each colony onto TriMV infected and uninfected wheat plants. WCM counts were taken at 7 day intervals following mite infestation. Results indicate that TriMV may have a negative impact on the reproductive potential of the WCM. The results from these studies demonstrate the importance of the mite source on virus epidemiology and the potential impact of this virus complex in the Great Plains.