She is investigating the impact of two key factors: the invasive aphid species Metopolophium festucae cerealium and alternative host plants such as tall fescue on the transmission of barley yellow dwarf virus.
First identified in U.S. wheat crops in 2011, the Metopolophium festucae cerealium aphid species causes significant direct feeding damage to crop, but ts effectiveness as a virus vector remains unclear. Parizad aims to investigate the genetic variation within Metopolophium festucae cerealium populations and whether it is influenced by geographic location and/or host plant species.
In connection with this research, she was recently awarded grant funding by the Invasive Species Collaborative at Virginia Tech.
Additionally, Parizad examines how changes in grazing land management may influence aphid dynamics and the spread of barley yellow dwarf virus into field crops. Given that grazing lands often border croplands, understanding these interactions is essential for predicting disease risk in nearby wheat fields.
“Shirin’s work identifying alternative barley yellow dwarf virus and aphid host plants and habitats is highly relevant to Virginia’s integrated livestock and crop production system where forage crops may also function as reservoirs for crop pests and pathogens,” said Rashed.
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