FIGURE 5.

(a) Transmissibility of MRFV‐PDS₁₂₀ by D. maidis (Dm) and RT‐PCR analysis (primers sm151 and 152) of insert stability. Replicated experiments showing virus symptoms and chlorophyll photobleaching phenotype induced by D. maidis‐transmitted MRFV‐PDS₁₂₀ at 30 dpi compared to MRFV‐WT and noninoculated plants (i, iii and v); and corresponding RT‐PCR assays of MRFV‐PDS₁₂₀ and MRFV‐WT in systemic leaves of infected plants (ii, iv and vi). Healthy plants (HC) and water (H₂O) were included as negative controls, and the MRFV‐PDS₁₂₀ plasmid (PL) as a positive control. M: 100 bp DNA marker. (b) Stability of MRFV‐PDS₁₂₀ through D. maidis (Dm) passaging. (i) Virus symptoms and chlorophyll photo bleaching phenotype induced by MRFV‐PDS₁₂₀ at 30 dpi after passage 2 acquisition and transmission by D. maidis, compared to MRFV‐WT and noninoculated plants, and (ii) corresponding RT‐PCR assays of MRFV‐PDS₁₂₀ and MRFV‐WT in systemic leaves of infected plants. The controls and DNA marker were included as described above. (iii) Virus symptoms and chlorophyll photobleaching phenotype induced by MRFV‐PDS₁₂₀ at 30 dpi after passage three acquisition and transmission by D. maidis, compared to MRFV‐WT and noninoculated plants, and (iv) corresponding RT‐PCR assays of MRFV‐PDS₁₂₀ and MRFV‐WT in systemic leaves of infected plants. The controls were included as described above