Newly Distinguished Cell Punctures Associated with Transmission of the Semipersistent Phloem-Limited Beet Yellows Virus

Abstract

We discovered the specific feeding activities of Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) associated with the transmission of Beet yellows virus (BYV; Closterovirus ). Our work strongly suggests that aphids can insert their stylets into the membranes of phloem cells—visualized as a unique type of waveform that is associated with the inoculation of BYV. This intracellular puncture (3 to 5 s) occurs just before the phloem salivation phase and can be distinguished from other nonvascular stylet cell punctures. This is the first time that the transmission of a phloem-limited semipersistent virus has been shown to be associated with a unique type of intracellular puncture. Our work offers novel information and strongly contributes to the existing literature on the transmission of plant viruses. Here we describe a new kind of aphid behavioral pattern that could be key in further works, such as studying the transmission of other phloem-limited viruses (e.g., luteoviruses).