Field transmission of grapevine leafroll associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) by the mealybug Planococcus citri

The spatial distributions of grape plants with symptoms of grapevine leafroll in nine vineyards in the Galician wine-growing region Rias Baixas (northwestern Spain) were analyzed. In five, significant aggregations of diseased plants and/or disease gradients toward one of the borders of the plots constituted indirect evidence of vector transmission by a nonflying vector. From 1991 to 1995, vines from two vineyards were tested for grapevine leafroll associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In one of these vineyards, which had been virus-free when planted, GLRaV-3 was detected 3 years after planting. In the second, the incidence of GLRaV-3 increased from 33 to 83% between 1991 and 1995. The mealybug Planococcus cirri was associated with the infected plants in this vineyard. GLRaV-3 was present in P. citri, and under controlled conditions this mealybug transmitted GLRaV-3 to five of five previously healthy grape plants.