Transmission biology is an interesting and growing field in plant pathology research. Although virus transmission by arthropod vectors has been studied for a long time, the transmission determinants on the insect side and the role of host factors are fairly recent fields of study.
We are interested in transmission of pollen-borne ilarviruses in peach. These viruses are known to be pollen and seed-transmitted, but the mechanisms of pollen transmission and in-orchard spread are not well-studied. We are exploring the role of flower-visiting insects, the impact of co-infection, and the role of wild reservoir hosts in pollen-borne transmission of this interesting and economically important group of viruses.
We are also interested in the transmission biology of the three-cornered alfalfa hopper (Spissistilus festinus) and how it vectors grapevine red blotch virus. This is an interesting system, because although the TCAH can vector GRBV in grapevine, it does not colonize grapevine, and prefers to feed on legume crops and forages. By all accounts, the TCAH seems to be a fairly inefficient vector and a minor vineyard pest, but ecological evidence suggests that the TCAH is associated with GRBV spread in vineyards. We are pursuing studies to dissect the interactions between the treehopper vector, GRBV, and grapevine. Moreover, the treehopper is a pest of legumes in the southeastern U.S., but its distribution and behavior in vineyards in this region is unknown.
We are interested in transmission of pollen-borne ilarviruses in peach. These viruses are known to be pollen and seed-transmitted, but the mechanisms of pollen transmission and in-orchard spread are not well-studied. We are exploring the role of flower-visiting insects, the impact of co-infection, and the role of wild reservoir hosts in pollen-borne transmission of this interesting and economically important group of viruses.
We are also interested in the transmission biology of the three-cornered alfalfa hopper (Spissistilus festinus) and how it vectors grapevine red blotch virus. This is an interesting system, because although the TCAH can vector GRBV in grapevine, it does not colonize grapevine, and prefers to feed on legume crops and forages. By all accounts, the TCAH seems to be a fairly inefficient vector and a minor vineyard pest, but ecological evidence suggests that the TCAH is associated with GRBV spread in vineyards. We are pursuing studies to dissect the interactions between the treehopper vector, GRBV, and grapevine. Moreover, the treehopper is a pest of legumes in the southeastern U.S., but its distribution and behavior in vineyards in this region is unknown.