Aphid species in relation to the transmission of barley yellow dwarf virus in Canada

Abstract

Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) was an efficient vector of most of the isolates of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) obtained in Canada in 1961, but 2 isolates, transmitted efficiently by Macrosiphum avenae (Fabr.) and Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker), were not transmitted by R. padi, R. fitchii (Sand.), R. maidis (F.), and Schizaphis graminum (Rond.). The percentage of test plants of Clintland 60 oats infected by each aphid species in tests with 15 isolates of BYDV were: R. padi, 80 per cent; M. avenae, 50 per cent; R. fitchii, 36 per cent; S. graminum, 13 per cent; M. dirhodum, 8 per cent; and R. maidis, 1 per cent. Myzus persicae (Sulz.) and Sipha agropyrella (H.R.L.) are reported for the first time as vectors of BYDV.