Beetle Transmission of Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus

Abstract

HOBBS, H. A., and J. P. FULTON. 1979. Beetle transmission of cowpea, chlorotic mottle virus. Phytopathology 69:255-256. Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus was transmitted by the bean leaf beetle, from and transmitted to beans. Levels were much lower when the virus was Cerotoma trifurcata, and by the spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica either acquired from or transmitted to cowpeas. Lespedeza cuneata, which undecimpunctata howardii. Three strains of the virus were transmitted at may be an overwintering host, was a poor source of virus for vectors. low levels. Levels of transmission were highest when virus was acquired Several viruses in the bromovirus group are transmitted by antiserum, using the Ouchterlony gel diffusion technique. Virus in leaffeeding beetles. Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) was beetles that had fed on infected plants was tested by severing one transmitted by the chrysomelid species Cerotoma trifurcata metathoracic leg and collecting in a capillary tube the hemolymph (Forster) and Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardii (Barber) (6); that exuded. Hemolymph was diluted approximately 1:300 in 0.01 the bean yellow stipple strain (BYSV) of CCMV by C. ruficornis M phosphate buffer, pH 7.2, and inoculated to young Monarch Olivier and D. balteata LeConte (2,3); and broad bean mottle virus cowpea plants. (BBMV) by D. undecimpunctata howardii, Acalymma trivittatum (Mannerheim), and Colaspis brunnea (F.) (7). Levels of transmission were moderate to low in all cases. Because CCMV is