Transmission of Citrus Tristeza Virus by Aphids (Homoptera, Aphididae) in Spain

Abstract

Transmission of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) by aphids was tried with two Spanish CTV isolates, T-300 and T-308. Isolate T-300 causes mild symptoms on Mexican Lime and is very widespread, while T-308 is very severe on Mexican Lime and has a limited distribution. Transmission of the two isolates was tried using 200 aphids/plant of the most important aphid species found on citrus in Spain: Aphis citricola, Toxoptera aurantii, Myxus persicae, Aphis gossypii, Aphis fabae and Aphis craccivora. Two other aphid species, Aphis nerii and Hyalopterus pruni were tested, only with the T-300 isolate. Isolate T-308 was transmitted only by A. gossypii with an efficiency of 28%, whereas the isolate T-300 was transmitted by A. gossypii (78%), by A. citricola (6%) and by T. aurantii (6%).