IDENTIFICATION AND LOCALIZATION OF APHID LETHAL PARALYSIS VIRUS-PARTICLES IN THIN TISSUE-SECTIONS OF THE RHOPALOSIPHUM-PADI APHID BY INSITU NUCLEIC-ACID HYBRIDIZATION

Nucleic acid in situ hybridization using 32P-end-labeled viral genomic RNA was used as an alternative to electron microscopy for the identification and localization of virus particles in whole-body thin-tissue sections of aphids. Actively replicating aphid lethal paralysis virus (ALPV), a picorna-like virus of aphids, was detected in the stomach and intestinal epithelium of infected Rhopalosiphum padi aphids. ALPV was also detected throughout the protocerebrum of aphids in the advanced stages of infection. Actively replicating virions were also detected in developing embryos indicating that transovarial transmission of an active maternal ALPV infection does occur. © 1990.