Bulletin of Insectology (2008) 61, 205-206

Marco G. Pansa and Luciana Tavella (2008)
Aphid population dynamics on highbush blueberry in relation to the spread of Blueberry scorch virus in Piedmont (NW Italy)
Bulletin of Insectology 61 (1), 205-206
4th European Hemiptera Congress, Ivrea (Turin, Italy) - Sept. 10-14, 2007
Abstract: In 2004, infections of Blueberry scorch virus (BlScV) were detected for the first time outside North America on Vaccinium corymbosum L. (Ericaceae) in Piedmont (NW Italy). In its original area, this virus is transmitted by Ericaphis scammelli (Mason) (Homoptera Aphididae) in a nonpersistent way. In 2005-2006, field surveys were fortnightly carried out to monitor aphid populations in a seriously infected highbush blueberry crop in Costigliole Saluzzo (province of Cuneo). Moreover, to evaluate the aphid transmission ability, during each survey from 10 to 100 specimens were transferred from surely infected plants to virus-free potted plants. In both years, E. scammelli was the predominant aphid in the investigated highbush blueberry crop. Infestation levels fluctuated from 3% to 64% of infested buds in 2005, and from 0.3% to 35% in 2006. In transmission trials, E. scammelli proved not to be a very efficient vector of BlScV because only 2/55 plants infested with aphids field-collected on infected plants were positive with the ELISA test.
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Database assignments for author(s): Luciana Tavella

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ericaphis scammelli	Blueberry/cranberry (Vaccinium)	Italy
	Blueberry scorch virus	Blueberry/cranberry (Vaccinium)	Italy