Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus infection improves host suitability for its insect vector, Sogatella furcifera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae).

The impact of southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) on the life cycle of the vector Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) was investigated. The adult longevity was significantly shorter when the insect was reared on the SRBSDV-infected rice plants than those reared on the noninfected rice treatment. The fecundity of S. furcifera reared on the SRBSDV-infected rice plants was slightly higher than that of those reared on the noninfected rice plants both in macropterous and brachypterous cohorts. In addition, SRBSDV infection in rice increased the population size of macropterous adults from both macropterous and brachypterous cohorts. After a 10 or 15 d feeding period on the SRBSDV-infected rice plants, the amount of honeydew excreted by the insect increased significantly when compared with those reared on the noninfected plants. These results revealed SRBSDV infection improves host suitability for its vector, S. furcifera.