Light microscopic autoradiography was used to study the mode of action of mineral oil in reducing transmission of tobacco etch potyvirus (TEV) by Myzus persicae. The ability of aphids to transmit 125 I-labeled TEV virions was abolished or drastically reduced by probing of mineral oil-sprayed membranes or leaves prior to virus acquisition and mineral oil-sprayed leaves after TEV acquisition. The lack of TEV transmission correlated with inability to retain labeled virions in the stylets. TEV transmission and retention of label in the stylets were closely correlated for control aphids. Our results support the hypothesis that mineral oil interferes with the retention of virions in aphid stylets.
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Ruikang K. Wang (1996) studied this question.