Aphids as Virus Vectors focuses on aphids as vectors of plant viruses and the fundamentals of their relationship with virus and host. The mouthparts and feeding mechanism of aphids are discussed, along with aphid penetration of plant tissues and the transmission mechanisms of aphids as virus vectors. The intrinsic properties and taxonomy of aphid-borne viruses are also examined. Comprised of 22 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the importance of aphids as vectors, their biology, and the properties of the viruses they transmit. These introductory chapters prepare the reader for later ones on aphid-virus-plant interactions. The next section deals with transmission mechanisms, with emphasis on several novel alternatives to many of the traditionally held concepts of how aphids transmit viruses. Accessory factors in non-persistent virus transmission are considered. Subsequent chapters focus on technological advances in aphid-virus research, including the use of aphid cell culturing, radioisotope methodology, membrane feeding, and electrical measurement systems. The most promising frontiers in epidemiological and control-oriented research are discussed in the last two sections. This monograph will be a useful resource for researchers from such varied sciences as entomology, plant science, and virology, as well as for graduate students taking entomology and plant pathology courses on insects in relation to plant diseases.

Invertebrates perform such vital roles in global ecosystems—and so strongly influence human wellbeing—that biologist E.O. Wilson was prompted to describe them as “little things that run the world.” As they are such powerful shapers of the world around us, their response to global climate change is also pivotal in meeting myriad challenges looming on the horizon—everything from food security and biodiversity to human disease control. This book presents a comprehensive overview of the latest scientific knowledge and contemporary theory relating to global climate change and terrestrial invertebrates. Featuring contributions from top international experts, this book explores how changes to invertebrate populations will affect human decision making processes across a number of crucial issues, including agriculture, disease control, conservation planning, and resource allocation. Topics covered include methodologies and approaches to predict invertebrate responses, outcomes for disease vectors and ecosystem service providers, underlying mechanisms for community level responses to global climate change, evolutionary consequences and likely effects on interactions among organisms, and many more. Timely and thought-provoking, Global Climate Change and Terrestrial Invertebrates offers illuminating insights into the profound influence the simplest of organisms may have on the very future of our fragile world.

In Virus-Insect-Plant Interactions, the world's leading scientists discuss the latest breakthroughs in understanding the biological and ecological factors that define these complex transmission systems and how this knowledge might be used to our advantage in producing innovative, user and environmentally friendly approaches to controlling the spread of plant pathogens by insects. This is an invaluable reference work for researchers, teachers, and students. There are many quick-reference figures and tables, the contents pages include individual chapter abstracts, and each chapter ends with its own bibliography. Presents the most significant research breakthroughs of the past two decades Contains eighteen chapters by forty-two world-renowned researchers Invaluable reference work for researchers, teachers and students Each chapter ends with its own bibliography Contents pages of forematter include individual chapter abstracts Contains many quick-reference figures and tables

Vectors of Plant Pathogens is a collection of papers that discusses the interrelationship of plant pathogens with their vectors. This collection deals with the numerous vector groups associated with plant pathogens. One paper describes the biology, feeding behavior and distribution of aphids, leafhoppers, plant hoppers, mealy bugs, whiteflies, psyllids, membracids. Another paper addresses the virus transmission characteristics of the mealy bugs during preliminary fasting or feeding, acquisition access time, post-acquisition fasting or feeding, and the inoculation access time. Other papers also discuss the involvement of insects in transmitting bacterial and fungal pathogens; the authors list unresolved issues such as the role of insects in overwintering of bacterial pathogens or the association of the fungus with a particular vector. One author describes some suspected fungi transmission such as the pea stem necrosis virus, red clover necrotic mosaic virus, and the tomato bushy stunt virus. Another paper examines the fate of plant viruses in mite vectors and convectors particularly the viruses found in wheat, barley, or brome grass. Agriculturists, botanists, and researchers in the field of botany, conservation, and plant genealogy will find this book useful.

Stressing the key role vectors play spread of virus diseases, this volume represents the priorities in practical plant virus research and ways in which their control or management should be sought through an understanding of the practical and environmental aspects of the interactions of viruses with their vectors and their environment. It provides

Plant Diseases and Vectors: Ecology and Epidemiology is the fourth in a five-volume series of books on vectors of plant disease agents. It is comprised of 10 chapters representing the expertise of 13 outstanding scientists from a total of seven different countries. This book begins with a discussion on the ecological involvement of wild plants in plant virus pathosystems. This is followed by the principles and applications of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in diagnosing plant viruses and monitoring their movement in the environment. The next two chapters detail the epidemiologies of diseases caused by leafhopper-borne viruses, mollicutes, and rickettsia-like organisms. This book also covers the developments in understanding the importance of helper agents to the transmission ecologies of many aphid-borne plant viruses. It also encompasses the factors that can contribute to the epidemiology and control of a disease affecting a major agricultural crop of the world. A vector of plant viruses not covered in earlier volumes of the series (the host plant, itself) and the man-made epidemiological hazards in major crops of developing countries are also described. This volume will broaden the knowledge of transmission ecology and disease epidemiology, not only by serving as a valuable supplemental textbook, reference work, and bibliographical source, but also by catalyzing novel syntheses of thinking and stimulating further research in the area.