Settlement rate of Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera, Aphididae) and transmission efficiency of Cucumber mosic virus in melons protected with kaolin-particle films

Abstract

The objective of our study was to evaluate the effect of Surround (95% kaolin) on the settlement of Aphis gossypii Glover on melon plants and on the transmission of a non-persistent virus, Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). The first step was to conduct a transmission experiment using apterae aphids under laboratory conditions. Results of these tests showed that Surround is unable to avoid the transmission of non-persistent viruses, although a significant reduction in the transmission rate of CMV in the Surroundtreated plants was observed in some cases. Also, the efficacy of Surround was tested using alatae aphids that were released in large cages under greenhouse conditions. The results obtained indicated that there was a significant difference in one assay at 24 h, and in two assays at 48 h, when the mean number of aphids settled on test plants treated and untreated with Surround was compared. However, Surround was able to reduce the transmission rate of CMV by only 10% and there were no statistically significant differences between treated and untreated control plants under our experimental conditions.