Transmission studies of watermelon mosaic virus (WMV-1) with its aphid vectors

Insect transmission studies of three isolates of WMV were carried out with four aphids, whitefly and three thrips. Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV-1) were transmitted by three aphids species viz., M. persicae, Aphis gossypii and A. craccivora. Amongst three aphid species M. persicae and Aphis gossypii were found most efficient vectors of all the isolates of WMV. Maximum virus transmission was observed when 10 aphids were given acquisition feeding of 10 min. and inoculation feeding of 15 min with pre-acquisition fasting for 120 min and no post acquisition fasting. Both aphid species retained WMV isolates upto 60 min thereby indicating transmission in a non persistent manner by the species of aphids viz., Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae.