Transmissibility of citrus yellow vein clearing virus by three dominant citrus aphids

Citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) is in the genus of Mandarivirus that infects some citrus cultivars and causes damage. In this study, the transmission of CYVCV by Aphis spiraecola, A. gossypii, and Toxoptera aurantii was investigated. Several 30 adult aphids of each species after a 24-hour acquisition access period (AAP) on infected Persian Lime were transferred to Citrus lemon cv. Eureka seedlings for 24 and 48 hours’ inoculation access period (IAP). Six months after inoculation, the infected plants were counted. Then their infection was confirmed by a two-step RT-PCR test. The results of the first test showed that 6 months’ post-inoculation, the mean transmission rate of CYVCV by A. spiraecola, A. gossypii, and T. aurantii was 16.67%, 13.33%, and 26.67%, respectively, for 24h AAP/24h IAP. The mean transmission rate was 23.33%, 20%, and 33.33% for 24h AAP/48h IAP, respectively. By increasing the inoculation access period of aphids on virus-infected plants from 24 h to 48 h, the transmission rate increased. In the second test, all three species of aphids with an unknown AAP were collected from infected Persian lime trees in the orchard, under natural conditions and allowed to feed for 24 and 48 hours on Eureka lemon in the greenhouse. It was found that the tested aphids were capable of transmitting this virus. The present study confirmed that the virus is transmitted from Persian lime to Eureka lemon by these citrus aphids under controlled conditions.