Aploneura lentisci (Hemiptera: Aphididae) a new vector of PVY in Tunisia

In the context of Necrotic Potato Virus Y (PVY^NTN) epidemiological study, a suction trap was operated in Cap Bon region from 2003 to 2012 to monitor aphids. Among 170 taxons caught, fifteen species were abundant, four potato aphids: Aphis gossypii, Aphis fabae, Myzus persicae, Macrosiphum euphorbiae and 11 non-potato aphids: Aphis spiraecola, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Aphis craccivora, Aploneura lentisci, Lipaphis erysimi, Hyalopterus pruni, Rhopalosiphum maidis, Rhopalosiphum padi, Schizaphis graminum, Brachycaudus helichrysi, and B. cardui. In a previous study all aphid vector efficiency were investigated excepted of A. lentisci species which we are not found. All of them were vectors of PVY^NTN with a rate varing from 3 to 95%. A. lentisci alternates between Pistacia lentiscus and Graminae. This year, we successfully found colonies of this species on Pistacia tree and aptera were collected in order to estimate their PVY^NTN transmission efficiency. The Tobacco Nicotiana tabacum var. Xanthi was used as host for inoculation tests. Ten days after, symptoms like leaf mottling, curling and vein necrosis were observed. The presence of PVY was checked by DAS-ELISA. As a result, A. lentisci revealed to be a vector of PVY^NTN with a moderate transmission rate estimated at 30% compared to M. persicae with a rate of 95%. Given its transmission efficiency and their abundance in potato fields traps, this species seem to represent a real risk of PVY spread. This is the first report of A. lentisci as a PVY^NTN vector and in our knowledge it has never been cited previously.