Developing a Method to Contain the Feeding of the Wheat Curl Mite (Aceria tosichella Keifer)

Authors

Pierce Leef, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Gary Hein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

Spring 4-30-2020

Document Type

Poster

Citation

Poster presentation, UCARE Research Fair, Spring 2020, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Comments

Copyright 2020 by the authors.

Abstract

To better understand the ecology and epidemiology of the wheat curl mite (Aceria tosichella Keifer) as a vector of wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), it is necessary to develop a method to confine the microscopic mites and their infection to specific areas of their host plants, particularly wheat and corn. In this study, corn was the plant of interest. The device developed for this mite-confining method was made by removing the lens of a phone camera lens clip and gluing a 2.5 cm x 4.5 cm piece of wood to the other arm of the clip. Clips were utilized by placing mite-infested wheat leaves on the wooden arm of the clip, opening the clip, and gently lowering the arms onto either side of the corn leaf with the wooden base on the underside. Mite survival, confinement, and feeding were recorded to be satisfactory for use in subsequent studies examining virus transmission by the mites. Future work utilizing this device will center around Red Fluorescent Protein-Tagged WSMV spread in resistant and non-resistant corn varieties along with susceptible wheat varieties.