A strain of Citrus leprosis virus 2 (CiLV-C2H) was found infecting hibiscus in Florida and Hawaii. The same Cilevirus was later found infecting passion fruit in Hawaii. However, the mite species responsible for the transmission of CiLV-C2H was unknown. Brevipalpus mites collected from CiLV-C2H infected hibiscus in Homestead, FL were evaluated for their ability to transmit CiLV-C2H to hibiscus, passion fruit, and citrus. The mites were identified as Brevipalpus yothersi (Baker, 1949) using Low-Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy and molecular techniques. Transmitted viruses were molecularly analyzed using cilevirus-specific multiplex RT-qPCR and HTS assays. All transmission experiments were conducted under quarantine-controlled conditions. Brevipalpus yothersi present in Florida successfully transmitted CiLV-C2H to five hibiscus varieties grown in Florida, but transmission to citrus and passion fruit was not demonstrated. This research is part of collaborative efforts to prevent the re-emergence of citrus leprosis in Florida.
