| Abstract: | New procedures developed for studying virus transmission by Trichodorus and Paratrichodorus species permit accurate characterization of the virus and identification of the nematode species. Results obtained using this virus transmission system show that serologically distinct isolates (serotypes) of tobraviruses are transmitted by different vector species. Furthermore, one species may be associated with the same virus serotype in several countries. These results suggest that a high degree of specificity occurs between tobraviruses and their vector nematodes. These new methods also permit the application of stringent criteria which are considered necessary to establish that a Trichodorus or Paratrichodorus species is a vector of a tobravirus. Only 11 of 36 published associations between Trichodorus or Paratrichodorus and tobraviruses fulfil these criteria. |
