Inefficient transmission of citrus tristeza virus from grapefruit by single brown citrus aphids

Abstract

Six severe and six mild Florida isolates of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) were used to evaluate the transmission efficiency of the virus from grapefruit seedlings by single brown citrus aphids (Toxoptera citricida Kirkaldy) (BrCA) from colonies initiated by aphids obtained from citrus groves in Fort Pierce, Fla. The transmission rate to 2120 receptor plants ['Mexican' lime (Citrus aurantifolia)] from grapefruit by single BrCA was 1.5%. Single BrCA transmitted four of the six severe isolates and three of the six mild isolates of CTV. The average transmission rate of severe isolates was 1.8%, higher than that (0.9%) of mild isolates. Severe isolate Y-7 had the highest transmission rate among six severe isolates, 3.6%. Mild isolate Y-23 had the highest transmission rate among the mild isolates, 3.0%. The transmission rates of CTV by alatae, apterae, or nymphs of BrCA were 1.5%, 1.5%, and 1.0%, respectively. The results suggested that BrCA is an inefficient vector of CTV when the source plant is grapefruit.