Aphid Transmission of a Nonaphid-Transmissible Strain of Tobacco Etch Virus

Abstract

Aphid transmission of a previously nonaphid-transmissible strain of tobacco etch virus TEV(NAT) was accomplished by first allowing nonviruliferous green peach aphids, Myzus persicae, to probe on a pepper plant infected with an aphid-transmissible strain of potato virus Y PVY(AT) prior to transferring it to a TEV(NAT)-infected plant for acquisition of TEV. TEV(NAT) transmitted in this manner was not aphid-transmissible to additional susceptible plants. When mixed infections of TEV(NAT) plus PVY(AT) were used as sources of virus, only TEV(NAT) was recovered. Squash plants infected with aphid-transmitted watermelon mosaic virus did not serve as a donor of assistor material for TEV(NAT). Efforts to transmit TEV(NAT) derived from a mixed infection of PVY(AT) plus TEV(NAT) using a low temperature (14.degree. C) for acquisition of virus and a higher temperature (26.degree. C) for inoculation were not successful. When plants infected with TEV(NAT) were challenged with an aphid-transmitted strain of TEV, TEV(AT), cross protection against the challenge strain was found. When TEV(AT)-infected plants were challenged with TEV(NAT), the TEV(AT) was readily recovered by aphids, again demonstrating cross protection. The assistor material necessary for aphid transmission of TEV is apparently intimately associated with the virus particle.