Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2009) 130, 130-137

C.A. Stafford, G.P. Walker, and R. Creamer (2009)
Stylet penetration behavior resulting in inoculation of beet severe curly top virus by beet leafhopper, Circulifer tenellus
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 130 (2), 130-137
Abstract: Beet leafhopper, Circulifer tenellus (Baker) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), is the only known North American vector of beet curly top virus (Geminiviridae), which causes major economic losses in a number of crops including sugar beet, tomato, beans, and peppers. Beet curly top virus is a phloem-limited, persistently transmitted, circulative geminivirus. The strain/species of curly top virus used in this study is the CFH strain, also referred to as beet severe curly top virus (BSCTV). The direct current (DC) electrical penetration graph technique was used to determine the specific stylet penetration behavior associated with inoculation of BSCTV. Viruliferous leafhoppers were allowed to feed on healthy 3-4-week-old sugar beet plants until specific electrical penetration graph waveforms were produced, at which point feeding was artificially terminated. A series of comparisons between leafhoppers that produced different combinations of waveforms clearly implicated waveform D1 as the only waveform correlated with inoculation of BSCTV. All successful inoculations contained waveform D1, and 56 out of 64 leafhoppers that produced waveform D1 successfully inoculated test plants. Eighty-five leafhoppers did not produce waveform D1 and none of these inoculated BSCTV. While the occurrence of waveform D1 appears to be necessary for BSCTV inoculation, there was no correlation between duration of waveform D1 and inoculation success rate. The correlation of waveform D1 and BSCTV inoculation found in this study implies that waveform D1 is associated with phloem salivation.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Gregory P. Walker, C.A. Stafford

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
new introduction of pest

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Circulifer tenellus	Beet/sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris)
	Beet severe curly top virus	Beet/sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris)