Specific nematode vectors for serologically distinctive forms of raspberry ringspot and tomato black ring viruses

Abstract

The forms of raspberry ringspot (RRV) and tomato black ring (TBRV) viruses known from southern England are serologically related to the forms known from Scotland, but only distantly. They also seem to have different vectors. Longidorus elongatus (de Man), which transmits the forms of both viruses occurring in Scotland, was not found at outbreaks of the viruses in England. Instead, L. macrosoma Hooper occurred where RRV was spreading, and L. attenuatus Hooper where TBRV was spreading. Adults and juveniles of L. macrosoma readily transmitted the English but not the Scottish form of RRV, or either form of TBRV. Adult females and juveniles of L. attenuatus transmitted the English form of TBRV, but in the one test failed to transmit the Scottish form. Ability to be transmitted by a given species of nematode appears to be correlated with the antigenic constitution of the virus.