Project Number: 1920-22000-034-03
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 30, 2005
End Date: Aug 31, 2009

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research is to develop a method for labeling and tracking viruses in aphids and to understand the evolution of virus vector specificity.

Approach:
1. Develop a system for fluorescently labeling viral particles and tracking viral particles in aphids using Plum pox potyvirus (PPV) and Soybean dwarf virus (SbDV) as model systems. 2. Test the effect of viral presence on the fitness of aphids. 3. Identify viral factors associated with the evolution of virus vector specificity.