Serological Detection of Beet Western Yellows Luteovirus in the Non‐vector,Brevicoryne brassicae(Homoptera: Aphididae)

The interaction between beet western yellows luteovirus (BWYV) and the aphid speciesBrevicoryne brassicaewas investigated using virus transmission and serological detection experiments. This species failed to transmit a BWYV isolate from infected to healthy oilseed rape plants, although virus was readily detected by double‐antibody sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (DAS‐ELISA) in singleB. brassicaeadults. When virus‐carrying adults were tested by ELISA after different inoculation access periods, the number of virus‐positive individuals decreased after 5 days, whereas with the efficient vectorMyzus persicae, virus‐positive individuals were found even after 10 days. This confirms the inability ofB. brassicaeto transmit BWYV, even though it may acquire the virus. It is suggested thatB. brassicae, as compared with the efficient vectorM. persicae, may serve as an experimental model for studying the mechanisms of the luteovirus‐vector specificity