CUCUMOVIRUS TRANSMISSION BY THE APHID MYZUS-PERSICAE IS DETERMINED SOLELY BY THE VIRAL COAT PROTEIN

Virus particles were reassembled in vitro from the proteins of two cucumoviruses, the aphid-transmissible V strain of tomato aspermy virus (VTAV) or the non aphid-transmissible M strain of cucumber mosaic virus (MCMV) with the RNAs of either virus or that of tobacco mosaic virus. Particles reassembled from VTAV protein and RNAs from any of the three viruses were transmitted by the aphid, Myzus persicae, following virus acquisition through membranes. However particles reassembled from MCMV protein and RNAs from any of the three viruses were not transmitted by the aphids. These results indicate that the transmission of cucumoviruses by aphids is determined solely by properties of their protein coats.