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Q&A

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

Poster

P-IE: Biocontrol - Parasitoids and Predators

D3262: Evaluating transmission and geographical spread of two novel viruses in the invasive air potato vine

Tuesday, November 2, 2021
9:00 AM – 6:30 PM MT
Location:: Exhibit Hall F
Poster In-Person

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Cassandra R. Kelm

    Laboratory Technician IV
    Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
    Gainesville, Florida, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Emily C. Kraus

    Biological Scientist
    Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
    Gainesville, Florida, United States

  • CM

    Carey Minteer

    University of Florida
    Fort Pierce, Florida, United States

  • KD

    Kishore Dey

    Biological Scientist IV
    Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
    Gainesville, Florida, United States

  • MV

    Maria Velez- Climent

    Laboratory Technician IV
    Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

The invasive air potato vine Dioscorea bulbifera (Dioscoreales: Dioscoreaceae), was first recorded in the United States in 1777, in Mobil Alabama. Due to D. bulbifera’ s subsequent spread, the vine was placed on the Florida Noxious Weed list in 1999. While the air potato beetle, Lilioceris cheni Gressitt and Kimoto (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), has shown considerable success since its introduction as a biological control agent for APV in 2012, the invasive vine continues to negatively affect the environment 

In 2018, two novel viruses, Potyvirus Dioscorea mosaic virus (DMV) and Ampelovirus air potato ampelovirus 1 (APV1), were discovered from D. bulbifera, at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry (FDACS-DPI). In the context of D. bulbifera management, the role of these viruses is unknown.

To gain a better understanding of the role both viruses play in D. bulbifera biology, this study was designed to investigate the presence of both viruses in leaf and bulbil tissue of APV, their geographical spread within Florida as well as the adjoining states where APV is also prevalent, and both viruses mode of transmission.

Preliminary results showed APV1 is transmitted through bulbils produced by D. bulbifera. Additionally, APV1 appears to be infecting a vast majority of the existing D. bulbifera population in Florida. Results and inferences regarding both novel viruses presence in leaf and bulbil tissue of APV, their geographical spread, and their mode of transmission will be presented.