VAPA, an Innovative “Virus-Acquisition Phenotyping Assay” Opens New Horizons in Research into the Vector-Transmission of Plant Viruses
Figure 1
Experimental set-up of a typical VAPA (virus-acquisition phenotyping assay) transmission experiment.
A. To construct the aphid harvesting device, a 1000 µl pipette tip with the utmost 2–3 mm cut off is attached to a silicon tube, with a Miracloth net squeezed in between. The tube is connected to a vacuum source (mechanical pump or human respiratory system) and aphids are sucked up into the pipette tip by negative pressure and retained by the net. B. The virus-acquisition phenotyping apparatus consists of a copper ring sealed with a Parafilm M membrane. Aphids placed in the ring are attracted to the membrane by a light source (not shown); protoplasts are then deposited onto the membrane and spread evenly with a cover glass. After a defined acquisition access period, aphids are transferred with an artist's paint-brush to test plants for inoculation.
