AbstractThe probing behavior of the potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), is significantly different on potato than on tobacco plants. The higher frequency of short-duration probes, ideal for the transmission of nonpersistent viruses, is the apparent cause for the higher rate of potato virus Y° (PVY°) transmission on tobacco than on potato. However, experimental augmentation of short inoculation probes by M. euphorbiae on potato and tobacco failed to increase PVY° transmission on either. These results demonstrate the absence of a causal relationship between variations in probing behavior of M. euphorbiae and variations in the transmissibility of PVY° by this vector on tobacco and potato.
