European Journal of Plant Pathology (2003) 109, 975-981

René Sforza, Elisabeth Boudon-Padieu and Charles Greif (2003)
New mealybug species vectoring grapevine leafroll-associated viruses-1 and -3 (GLRaV-1 and -3)
European Journal of Plant Pathology 109 (9), 975-981
Abstract: Many grape viruses, such as filamentous Grapevine leafroll-associated viruses in the Closteroviridae family, are spread primarily through infected propagating material. However, there is increasing evidence that leafroll disease are spread in the field by insect vectors, namely mealybugs and other scale insects. This study was carried out in the northern wine-growing regions of France where Grapevine leafroll-associated virus-1 and -3 (GLRaV-1 and -3) are the most widespread grape Ampelovirus species. The vineyards were inspected for presence of mealybug and scale insects and grapes infected by GLRaV-1 and -3. Mealybugs, Heliococcus bohemicus, Phenacoccus aceris (Pseudococcidae) and the soft scale insect Parthenolecanium corni (Coccidae), were capable of a transmission efficiency of 14%, 23% and 29% respectively. GLRaV-1 and -3 infections that resulted from virus transmission were confirmed with DAS-ELISA using polyclonal antibodies. This is the first report of GLRaV-1 and -3 transmission by mealybug and coccid species in France, and the first report of the ability of H. bohemicus and Phenacoccus aceris to transmit these viruses to grapevines. The relevance of these findings with regards to maintenance of virus-free grapevine stocks and to control leafroll spread in commercial vineyards is discussed.
(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): René Sforza, Elisabeth Boudon-Padieu

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

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Parthenolecanium corni	Grapevine (Vitis)	France
	Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3	Grapevine (Vitis)	France
	Heliococcus bohemicus	Grapevine (Vitis)	France
	Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 1	Grapevine (Vitis)	France
	Phenacoccus aceris	Grapevine (Vitis)	France