Testing for pea leafroll virus and inheritance of resistance in peas

Abstract

Different aspects of pea leafroll, the most important virus disease of peas and Vicia-beans in The Netherlands, are discussed. These aspects include the spread of the virus, the damage done by the disease, the symptoms, the nature of the virus, the vectors and the host plants. Pea leafroll virus (PLRV) is a persistent virus which is invariably transmitted by aphids. The most important vector is the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisumHarris. Lucerne actas as a winter host for the virus and the pea aphid. The pea aphids are reared on diseased lucerne plants and are used in a glass-house experiment to test cross populations for resistance. In view of its importance for that test it is necessary to discuss the biology of the pea aphid in some detail. Besides the glasshouse test some field test methods are mentioned.