acquisition feeding time
The amount of time required for a successful acquisition of a virus by its vector for subsequent transmission, in which it then becomes viruliferous.
acquisition feeding time: how long a vector must feed to catch a virus
Acquisition feeding time is the minimum duration a disease vector, usually an insect, must feed on an infected plant to acquire enough viral particles for later transmission. It is measured in minutes or hours depending on the vector species and virus type. Once this threshold is crossed, the vector becomes viruliferous and capable of spreading the pathogen to new hosts, even if it stops feeding immediately.
The time varies significantly by vector and virus combination. Aphids feeding on potato virus Y may acquire infectivity in as little as 5 to 15 minutes, while leafhoppers transmitting some persistent viruses require 24 hours or more of continuous feeding. The virus must traverse from the plant phloem, through the insect's gut wall, and into its salivary glands before transmission is possible. Non-persistent viruses, which attach only to the insect's mouthparts, have acquisition times counted in seconds.
In agricultural pest management, knowing the acquisition feeding time shapes control strategy. If a field scout detects an infested plant early enough, removing it before vectors reach the critical feeding duration can prevent widespread transmission. Conversely, a crop already showing symptoms has likely allowed vectors sufficient feeding time, so control shifts toward managing the insect population rather than preventing virus acquisition itself.
Variability and measurement
Environmental conditions alter acquisition efficiency. Temperature affects vector feeding rate and virus availability in plant tissue. A vector feeding at 25 degrees Celsius may acquire virus in half the time needed at 15 degrees. Plant age, variety, and virus concentration in the phloem also influence how quickly the threshold is met. Laboratory tests determine acquisition feeding time by allowing vectors to feed for set intervals, then transferring them to virus-free plants and counting successful transmissions.
Acquisition feeding time differs from inoculation feeding time, which is the duration needed to transmit the virus after acquisition is complete. A single vector may require 10 minutes to acquire virus but only 2 minutes to infect a new host. This distinction is critical for understanding disease spread dynamics and predicting how quickly an infection moves through a susceptible crop.