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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 56(10)

Role of winter-active aphids spreading Barley yellow dwarf virus in decreasing wheat yields in a Mediterranean-type environment

Deborah J. Thackray A B D , Laura T. Ward A , Monica L. Thomas-Carroll B C and Roger A. C. Jones A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.

B Department of Agriculture, Locked Bag 4, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983, Australia.

C Present address: Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, PO Box 1410, Canning Vale, WA 6970, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: djthack@clima.uwa.edu.au

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56(10) 1089-1099 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR05048
Submitted: 15 February 2005  Accepted: 21 July 2005   Published: 25 October 2005

Abstract

In the grainbelt of south-western Australia, which experiences Mediterranean-type climatic conditions, 3 field experiments with wheat were sown in autumn, 2 at Site A over 2 years and 1 at Site B in the first year only. These experiments related both activity of aphid vectors (migration into and colonisation of wheat) and the spread of infection with Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) serotype PAV to wheat grain yield and quality. Incidences of BYDV serotype RMV and Cereal yellow dwarf (CYDV) were mostly low and BYDV serotype MAV was not distinguished. Rhopalosiphum padi was the predominant vector species but small numbers of R. maidis and Sitobion miscanthi were also present. Repeated insecticide spray applications began at different times in the different experimental treatments. These sprays killed or repelled aphid vectors, thereby preventing further virus spread from the time they were first applied. At both sites, migrant aphids were caught flying into the wheat throughout the winter period. Peak numbers of colonising aphids ranged from 0 to 99/0.5-m transect of crop. BYDV-PAV incidence ranged from 0.1 to 58% of plants and yields ranged from 1.9 to 8.6 t/ha. First aphid arrival was earlier, and virus spread and resulting yield losses greater at Site A. At this site, in treatments where repeated insecticide sprays did not start until 8 weeks after crop emergence (WAE), virus incidence and subsequent yield losses were significantly greater than when the regular applications started at emergence. However, delaying the start of sprays beyond 8 weeks had no further effect on virus spread. Since aphid numbers were very low up to 8–10 WAE, yield losses were due entirely to virus infection of plants during this early growth period. Variation in BYDV-PAV incidence explained 81 or 91% of the variation in yield gaps in the 2 years at Site A where, for each 1% increase in virus incidence, there was a yield decrease of 55 or 72 kg/ha. It also explained the variation in seed weight (88%) and protein content (69%), but not in seed screenings. At Site B, virus spread started too late to cause significant yield or quality losses. These results show that wheat yields are decreased substantially in a Mediterranean-type environment, when aphids immigrate early into wheat crops and remain active throughout the winter-growing period, spreading virus infection at young plant growth stages.

Additional keywords: BYDV, CYDV, yield loss, seed weight, screenings, protein content, insecticide, migration, control, prediction.


Acknowledgments

We thank Ian Guthridge and David Took for on-site maintenance of field experiments; Brenda Coutts, Belinda Cox, and Donna Atkins for laboratory assistance; and CBH Pty Ltd, Perth, Australia, for the protein and screening assessments in 1998. Financial support was provided by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.


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