Leafhopper probing behavior associated with maize chlorotic dwarf virus transmission to maize.

Maize chlorotic dwarf virus (MCDV) is a semipersistently transmitted, foregut-borne virus, transmitted in the field by the leafhopper, Graminella nigrifrons. When MCDV-inoculative G. nigrifrons were given access periods from 15 min to 4 h on maize test plants, there was a positive correlation between longer access and higher transmission. An electronic insect feeding monitor was used to evaluate components of leafhopper probing associated with MCDV inoculation and to compare the probing behaviors of five MCDV-vector and five nonvector leafhopper species. MCDV transmission occurred only when monitored G. nigrifrons produced x-waveforms (this waveform was recorded from all 16 monitored leafhoppers that transmitted MCDV). This characteristic waveform always was recorded prior to ingestion from phloem by leafhoppers [...]