Transmission of Barley Yellow-Dwarf Virus by Four Biotypes of the Corn Leaf Aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis1

Abstract

Four biotypes of the corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), were used to transmit the AG-l strain of barley yellow-dwarf virus. Biotype KS-2 Was a highly efficient vector (87%), followed by biotypes KS-1 and KS-3 (44 and 46%, respectively). Biotype KS-4 was consistently less efficient (28%). All 4 biotypes were efficient enough, however, to be potentially important vectors in the field. Although they differed in transmission efficiency, no vector specificity was characteristic of any of the aphid biotypes studied.