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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #226261
Title: Characteristics of whitefly transmission of Squash vein yellowing virus

Author
item WEBB, SUSAN - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item Adkins, Scott
item BAKER, CARLYE - FDACS-DPI

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2008
Publication Date: 7/1/2008
Citation: Webb, S.E., Adkins, S.T., Baker, C.A. 2008. Characteristics of whitefly transmission of Squash vein yellowing virus. Phytopathology. 98:S167

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV), a recently described ipomovirus, is transmitted by the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius, B strain. Understanding the characteristics of transmission is essential for developing management strategies for this virus, which is the causal agent for watermelon vine decline in Florida. Laboratory and greenhouse experiments examined transmission efficacy and the effect of inoculation and acquisition access times. Whiteflies were added to a cage containing SqVYV-infected plants for specific acquisition access periods (AAP) and then collected and placed in clip cages for inoculation access periods (IAP) on uninfected squash seedlings (25 or 30 per treatment). At least 30 whiteflies per plant were required to obtain an average of 46% infection in three experiments (24-h AAP and IAP). In a twice-repeated experiment with 30 whiteflies per plant and a 24-h AAP, no plants became infected after a 30-min IAP. IAPs of 2 and 4 h resulted in similar rates of transmission (12 and 16%), with a doubling of transmission after 8 h (32%). In contrast, in one experiment, AAPs of 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 h resulted in 47, 33, 73, 80, and 20% transmission respectively after a 24-h IAP with 30 whiteflies per plant. The decreased rate of transmission after 24 h is being examined further. Rapid acquisition of this virus by whiteflies could lead to rapid spread in field situations if feeding adults move to new plants after disturbance by cultural practices and harvesting.