Plant Disease (2022) 106, 1330-1333

Euclides S. Vilanova, Anderson Ramos, Maria C. Souza de Oliveira, Mariana B. Esteves, Marcos C. Gonçalves and João R.S. Lopes (2022)
First report of a mastrevirus (Geminiviridae) transmitted by the corn leafhopper
Plant Disease 106 (5), 1330-1333
Abstract: Maize striate mosaic virus (MSMV; genus Mastrevirus) was recently reported in maize plants in Brazil and also detected by metagenomic analyses in the corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott). Although these findings suggested that D. maidis is a potential vector, no transmission studies have been performed. Here, we tested the transmission of MSMV by D. maidis from field-collected infected plants and plants infected with MSMV via leafhopper-mediated transmission in the laboratory; all plants were confirmed positive for MSMV by PCR. In each one of three transmission replicates, aviruliferous D. maidis nymphs and adults were confined together on a source plant during a 4-day acquisition access period (AAP) and subsequently transferred to healthy maize seedlings (10 individuals per test plant) in a series of 4-day inoculation access periods (IAPs). We also tested transmission by the corn aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) and by mechanical inoculation of healthy maize seedlings. Only D. maidis transmitted MSMV, with overall transmission rates of 29.4 and 39.5% on field-collected infected plants and 18.5% on infected plants in laboratory. D. maidis transmitted MSMV until the third (8 to 12 days after the AAP) or fourth successive IAP (12 to 16 days), with gradual loss in transmission efficiency and rate of viruliferous insects over time, suggesting a persistent but nonpropagative mode of transmission. Infected test plants showed mottling symptoms with mild chlorotic streaks and height reduction. This is the first report of transmission of a mastrevirus by D. maidis, facilitating the completion of Koch's postulate for MSMV.
(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): Marcos C. Gonçalves, João Roberto Spotti Lopes

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.
	Dalbulus maidis	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Brazil (south)
	Maize striate mosaic virus	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Brazil (south)