A striate mosaic virus disease of grasses and cereals in Australia, transmitted by the cicadellid Nesoclutha obscura

Abstract

A virus disease of perennial grasses and small grain cereals, not previously studied in Australia, was found in northern New South Wales and Queensland. The disease does not appear at present to be of great economic importance, but the virus has many properties in common with wheat striate mosaic virus of North America. The vector is the cicadellid leafhopper Nesoclutha obscura Evans. Ten other cicadellids, two delphacids, and two cereal aphids did not transmit the disease. Evidence is presented that, unlike the majority of leafhopper-borne viruses, the virus causing the disease inhabits the mesophyll. Some studies of the virus-vector relationships, the host range, and symptomatology, and comparisons of these with those of other grass and cereal viruses are recorded.