Serological detection of plant viruses in their aphid vectors and host plants in Tunisia.

DAS-ELISA was used to study the presence of viruses in four aphid species (Aphis gossypii, Aphis craccivora, Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae) and in their host plants potato, capsicum and tomato. Samples were collected in different regions in Tunisia: north, Cap Bon, Sahel, centre and south. A. gossypii and M. persicae carried all the viruses detected: Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus, Tomato aspermy cucumovirus, Tobacco etch potyvirus, Potato Y potyvirus, Alfalfa mosaic alfamovirus and Potato leafroll polerovirus. These two aphids were also those that occurred most frequently on the crops concerned.