Additional evidence on seed and aphid transmission of Plum pox virus in apricot, peach and pea plants

 Maisa A. E. Awad1, Laila M. Ibrahim1, F. Abo El- Abbas ², M.H.El Hammady ² and Amal Abou El-Ela A. 1

1Virus and Phytoplasma Res.Dept., Plant Pathology Res. Instit, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt. ² Dept. of Plant Pathology, Fac. of Agric., Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

 Received October 2007: accepted December2007

Abstract:

 Seed transmission of PPV is becoming increasing important for breeding programmers, nursery production and international exchange. Studies were carried out with seeds of apricot (cvs. Balady, Canino and Hammawy) and pea seeds (Master B, and Linkolen) infected with El-Amar strain (Eg1). The results were found in apricot cultivars 0.5%, 2.2% and 1.2% respectively and in pea cultivars 6.8 and 4.1% respectively. The results were determined by DAS-ELISA in germinating seeds and seedlings.

Insect transmission were conducted under green house conditions, on woody plant hosts and pea plants to determine aphid species responsible for the natural spread of Plum pox Potyvirus (PPV-El-Amar strain). All the aphid species tested (Aphis crassiphora, Aphis fabae, Aphis gossypii, Hyalopterus pruni, Myzus persicae, and Rhopalosiphum padi), except A. crassiphora transmitted PPV El-Amar strain in different rates. 

All the aphid species tested Aphis crassiphora, Aphis fabae, Aphis gossypii, Hyalopterus pruni, Myzus persicae, and Rhopalosiphum padi were able to transmit Plum Pox Virus (El Amar strain) from infected woody (apricot and peach) and herbaceous (pea) seedling to the same healthy host seedlings.

Hyalopterus pruni was more effective (86. %) than the other two aphid species in transmission (15.0 to 63.3 %) of Eg1 and Eg2 isolates.