A New Strategy to Block Aphid Transmission of Poleroviruses

Cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV) is an emerging polerovirus infecting cotton in the United States. CLRDV is transmitted by Aphis gossypii, the cotton aphid, and potentially other aphid vector species. This presentation will describe recent work in our lab to develop a novel strategy to block the transmission of poleroviruses by aphids using an inhibitory protein. This work was pioneered with Potato leafroll virus, a closely-related virus species, but is being rapidly adapted for managing CLRDV in cotton.