Transmisión del Mal de Río Cuarto virus por ninfas de primer y tercer estadio de Delphacodes kuscheli

The ability of first and third-instar Delphacodes kuscheli Fennah (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) nymphs to acquire and transmit Mal de Rio Cuarto virus (MRCV), under controlled conditions, was investigated. First and third-instar nymphs were allowed acquisition feeding separately on infected wheat plants for 48 hours. The insects were then placed in groups of three for serial transmissions to healthy wheat plants, using inoculation periods of 24 hours. Both instars of D. kuscheli were demonstrated to acquire and subsequently transmit the virus. Nevertheless, transmission trials showed highest transmission efficiency and shortest latent period when MRCV was acquired by first-instar nymphs.