Cannabis aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a new vector of potato virus Y infecting hemp

Hemp production in the United States is a rapidly growing sector of agriculture, causing a rise in insect vectors of plant viruses which are poorly understood. Potato virus Y (PVY), which is vectored exclusively by aphids, is one of the most significant threats to potato production in the U.S. and around the world. Here we assess the ability of the cannabis aphid, Phorodon cannabis, to vector PVY. To determine the efficiency of P. cannabis in vectoring PVY in hemp and potato, we conducted transmission assays using aphids of all life stages. The efficiency of virus acquisition and transmission was tested with PCR and PVY-universal primers using samples of aphids and aphid-probed plant tissues. The feeding behaviors of viruliferous versus non-viruliferous P. cannabis on healthy hemp and potato plants were also compared with Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) analysis. The feeding phases wherein non-persistent virus inoculation and acquisition occur were paid particular concern to deduce potential virus induced effects on aphids. The results of this study will provide insight on cannabis aphid physiology and possible virus induced effects on aphid feeding behaviors, which will be useful in the development of management strategies for aphids and PVY.