TRANSMISSION OF BARLEY YELLOW DWARF VIRUS BY CEREAL APHIDS COLLECTED FROM DIFFERENT HABITATS ON CEREAL FARMS

Cereal aphids were collected from cereal crops, from Poa annua within cereal fields, from Lolium perenne pastures and from wild grasses in hedge bottoms and around farm buildings. The frequency of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) transmission was assessed by aphid transmission tests. There were differences in transmission rates between aphid species, between host species and between years. The transmission rates of Rhopalosiphum padi from the different host species were broadly similar whereas for Sitobion avenae, P. annua within cereal fields was significantly better than the other host species. Wild grasses other than P. annua were relatively poor sources of virus. A large percentage of aphids frequently transmitted more than one strain, suggesting that host plants are often infected with more than one BYDV strain.