Evidence for Noncirculative Transmission of Pierce's Disease Bacterium by Sharpshooter Leafhoppers

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Abstract
Half of the leafhoppers (Graphocephala atropunctata) allowed acquisition access on grapevines [Vitis vinifera] affected with Pierce''s disease (PD) became infective within 2.0 h and there was no significant increase in acquisition beyond 24 h. The median inoculation access period was 3.9 h. Three of 34 (9%) insects transmitted after 1 h each for acquisition and for inoculation, which was in close agreement with estimates for which no latent period was assumed. Neither G. atropunctata nor Draeculacephala minerva retained infectivity after molting. The loss of infectivity after molting and lack of a latent period suggest a noncirculative mechanism of transmission of the PD bacterium by leafhoppers.