Transmission Characteristics of the Beet Leafhopper Transmitted Virescence Agent

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Abstract
Beet leafhopper transmitted virescence agent (BLTVA), which causes a disease with a presumed etiology by a mycoplasma-like organism, is vectored by Circulifer tenellus in a pattern consistent with other leafhopper-borne plant pathogenic mollicutes. The minimum acquisition access period (AAP) was 5 min; more than 50% of test plants developed symptoms after exposure to insects that had undergone a 4-hr AAP. Transmission increased with increasing AAP until 100% of test plants became infected after an AAP of 1 or 2 days. The minimum demonstrable latent period in C. tenellus was 12 days. Maximum inoculation efficiency was reached at 26-27 days after which a gradual decline in efficiency occurred. An inoculation access period (IAP) of 5 min rarely resulted in transmission. IAPs of 2 days provided high rates of infection in test plants. Single C. tennulus transmitted to about 50% of young plants of Apium graveolens, Brassica geniculata, Catharanthus roseus, and Raphanus sativus. Groups of 5 or 10 inoculative insects gave nearly 100% transmission to the same hosts. Transmission efficiency was not related to sex; groups of 10 male and female leafhoppers transmitted to 82 and 81% of test plants.

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