Transmission of Grapevine Leafroll Viruses by Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and Ceroplastes rusci (Hemiptera: Coccidae)

Grapevine leafroll associated virus-3 (GLRaV-3) and Grapevine leafroll associated virus-5 (GLRaV-5), two members of the genus Ampelovirus associated with grapevine leafroll disease, were transmitted by the mealybug Planococcus ficus and the soft scale insect Ceroplastes rusci from infected to healthy vines under experimental conditions. The efficiencies of transmission of GLRaV-3 and GLRaV-5 by P. ficus were 23.3 and 8.3%, respectively, and by C. rusci were 3.3 and 1.7%, respectively. Juvenile instars of P. ficus were more efficient in transmission of the viruses than adult females. This is the first report of the ability of C. rusci to transmit these viruses to grapevines.