POLYMER WEBS TO PREVENT VIRUS TRANSMISSION BY APHIDS IN SEED POTATOES

Electrical registration and visual observation of penetration behaviour combined with ELISA-technique showed that laboratory-made webs of synthetic fibers were very promising to protect plants against virus infection by aphids. It was demonstrated that stylet penetration by aphids into potato leaves could be prevented by covering plants with these materials. The recent mass production of polypropylene sealed fiber fleeces and polyethylene nettings have made field experiments possible to determine their effect on aphid probing behaviour and virus transmission. Field experiments with potatoes showed that one particular fleece completely protected the plants against virus transmission (PVY and PLRV) and with a second fleece and a netting a small proportion of plants were infected. In uncovered plots up to 25% of plants became infected. A seed potato crop covered with polypropylene fleece which is inspected regularly for damage will be fully protected against virus transmission.