Al-Rustom1*, N. Abo Kaf1 and E.H. Akel2.
(1) Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Latakia University, Latakia, Syria; (2) General Authority of Agricultural Scientific Research, Latakia Research Center, Syria.
*Email address of the corresponding author: [email protected]
The efficiency of the black citrus aphid, Toxoptera aurantii in transmitting a local isolate of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV), genus Closterovirus, family Closteroviridae, on Citrus aurantium seedlings was investigated. The study was conducted at the Agricultural Scientific Research Center in Latakia during the 2022-2023 season in a greenhouse with an insect-proof net covering at a temperature of 20-25°C, a relative humidity of 65±5%, and a photoperiod of 8:16 hours (dark:light). The relative amount of virus in the tested seedlings was estimated using the double antibody sandwich-ELISA (DAS-ELISA) test according to the protocol of the manufacturing company “Bioreba”, using an ELISA reader at a wavelength of 405 nm. The results obtained confirmed the efficiency of the black citrus aphid in transmitting the local CTV isolate, starting from 5 insects of black aphids/plant, and the transmission efficiency increased with the increasing numbers of aphid insects used/plant, with maximum transmission occurred when 20 aphids per plant were used. The results obtained also confirmed the efficiency of the black citrus aphid in transmitting the local CTV isolate, starting with a 5 minute of acquisition feeding period on the source plant, and the efficiency increased with the increase of the acquisition feeding period.
Toxoptera aurantii, black citrus aphid, Citrus tristeza virus, CTV, Latakia, Syria.
https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001453