Transmission by Laodelphax striatellus Fallen of Rice black‐streaked dwarf virus from Frozen Infected Rice Leaves to Healthy Plants of Rice and Maize

Rice black‐streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) is transmitted naturally to important crops such as rice, maize, barley and wheat in a persistent manner by the planthoppers, Laodelphax striatellus, Unkanodes sapporona and Unkanodes albifascia. Insect vector transmission tests are the basis for identifying viral incidence, evaluating the resistance of varieties and selecting resistance sources for rice and maize breeding. A simple, rapid and reliable method is described by which virus‐free small brown planthoppers (L. striatellus) acquired RBSDV from frozen infected rice leaves and transmitted it to healthy rice and maize plants. After feeding on frozen infected rice leaves, the planthoppers were tested by RT‐PCR for the presence of virus after 10, 15, and 22 days, respectively. The percentages of RBSDV‐containing insects were 0, 25 and 71.43% of L. striatellus fed on frozen infected rice leaves compared to 0, 28.25 and 71.43% of L. striatellus fed on fresh infected rice leaves, respectively. In transmission tests, three of eight rice seedlings (37.5%) and four of eight maize seedlings (50%) were inoculated by the planthoppers that had fed previously on frozen leaves and had allowed a 22 days latent period and showed typical disease symptoms. As a positive control, four of eight rice seedlings (50%) and four of six maize seedlings (66.67%) became infected. All rice and maize plants expressing disease symptoms were identified as virus‐positive by RT‐PCR. These results indicated that the planthoppers acquired RBSDV from frozen infected leaves and transmitted the virus to healthy plants.