Evaluation of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) for control of vector-borne diseases in solanaceous crops

Abstract

Every year, solanaceous crops, such as potato (Solanum tuberosum) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), suffer important economic loss due to insect pests and the diseases they transmit. While pesticides can be used to control insects directly, they can exacerbate some vector-borne diseases by increasing insect movement among plants and thus increase disease transmission. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), an inhibitor of ethylene biosynthesis, as a potential control strategy for insect vectors and vector-borne disease of tomato and potato. AVG application (0.5 g/L) was evaluated in field plots and insect populations were monitored. Two field applications of AVG reduced total insect and leafhopper populations in tomato and potato plots, however, AVG increased thrips populations in tomato fields later in the growing season. Dual-choice bioassays were performed to examine the effect of AVG on insect preference toward virus-infected plants. AVG application reduced aphid preference to Potato leafroll virus infected potato plants but did not affect leafhopper preference to Beet curly top virus infected tomato plants. Taken together, these results suggest that AVG has the potential to be used as a component of integrated management practices, but additional studies will be required.