Pseudococcus maritimus Ehrhorn (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is an Efficient Vector of Blackberry Vein Banding-Associated Virus (BVBaV) Under Experimental Greenhouse Conditions

Abstract

Blackberry vein banding-associated virus (BVBaV) is an ampelovirus identified from a blackberry plant affected by yellow vein disease in Mississippi. In the original study, the virus genome was sequenced, a diagnostic method was developed and its distribution and population structure were assessed. In this work, conducted under greenhouse conditions, we successfully transmitted BVBaV using the American grape mealybug (Pseudococcus maritimus Ehrhorn) collected from daughter plants of the original virus source. Results of this work provide the first evidence of BVBaV transmission by Ps. maritimus under experimental conditions.