scholarly journals Molecular Characterization and Detection of a Genetically Distinct Tomato Chlorosis Virus Strain in Taiwan

Plant Disease ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 600-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Chi Kang ◽  
Yun-Chi Wang ◽  
Chun-Ming Hsia ◽  
Wen-Shi Tsai ◽  
Li-Hsin Huang ◽  
...  

The whitefly-transmitted tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) belonging to the genus Crinivirus (family Closteroviridae) affects tomato production worldwide. ToCV was first recorded in Taiwan in 1998 affecting tomato production. In this study, a local virus isolate XS was obtained, after serial whitefly transmissions from a diseased tomato plant displaying general chlorosis were collected in central Taiwan. The whole genome sequence of XS was determined from cDNA fragments amplified by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, first using the degenerate primers for viruses of Closteroviridae and followed by degenerate and specific primers designed on available sequences of the ToCV isolates. The nucleotide (nt) sequences of RNA-1 and RNA-2 of the XS shared low identities of 77.8 to 78% and 78 to 78.1%, respectively, with genome segments of other ToCV isolates. Nevertheless, the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), heat shock protein 70 homolog (Hsp70h), and major capsid protein (CP) shared 88.3 to 96.2% amino acid (aa) identities with other ToCV isolates, indicating that XS is a new strain of this virus. Phylogenetic analyses of these three proteins indicated that all ToCV isolates from different counties outside Taiwan are closely related and clustered in the same clade, whereas the XS isolate is distinct and forms a unique branch. A one tube RT-PCR assay using primers designed from the genomic sequence of the XS was able to detect the ToCV-XS in infected tomato plants and in individual whiteflies. A field survey during 2013 to 2016 revealed a high ToCV-XS prevalence of 60.5% in 172 tested tomato samples, demonstrating that ToCV-XS is becoming an emerging threat for tomato production in Taiwan.

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. e10SC05
Author(s):  
Ivana Stankovic ◽  
Ana Vucurovic ◽  
Katarina Zecevic ◽  
Branka Petrovic ◽  
Danijela Ristic ◽  
...  

Aim of study: To report the occurrence of Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) on tomato in Serbia and to genetically characterize Serbian PepMV isolates.Area of study: Tomato samples showing virus-like symptoms were collected in the Bogojevce locality (Jablanica District, Serbia).Material and methods: Collected tomato samples were assayed by DAS-ELISA using antisera against eight economically important or quarantine tomato viruses. Three selected isolates of naturally infected tomato plants were mechanically transmitted to tomato ‘Novosadski jabučar’ seedlings. For confirmation of PepMV infection, RT-PCR was performed using specific primers PepMV TGB F/PepMV UTR R. Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree was constructed with 47 complete CP gene sequences of PepMV to determine the genetic relationship of Serbian PepMV isolates with those from other parts of the world.Main results: The results of DAS-ELISA indicated the presence of PepMV in all tested samples. Mechanically inoculated ‘Novosadski jabučar’ seedlings expressed yellow spots and light and dark green patches, bubbling, and curled leaves. All tested tomato plants were RT-PCR positive for the presence of PepMV. The CP sequence analysis revealed that the Serbian PepMV isolates were completely identical among themselves and shared the highest nucleotide identity of 95.1% (99.2% aa identity) with isolate from Spain (FJ263341). Phylogenetic analysis showed clustering of the Serbian PepMV isolates into CH2 strain, but they formed separate subgroup within CH2 strain.Research highlights: This is the first data of the presence of PepMV in protected tomato production in Serbia. Considering increased incidence and rapid spread in Europe, the presence of PepMV on tomato could therefore represent serious threat to this valuable crop in Serbia.


Plant Disease ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 698-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Tomitaka ◽  
T. Usugi ◽  
R. Kozuka ◽  
S. Tsuda

In 2009, some commercially grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, exhibited mosaic symptoms. Ten plants from a total of about 72,000 cultivated plants in the greenhouses showed such symptoms. To identify the causal agent, sap from leaves of the diseased plants was inoculated into Chenopodium quinoa and Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Local necrotic lesions appeared on inoculated leaves of C. quinoa, but no systemic infection was observed. Systemic mosaic symptoms were observed on the N. benthamiana plants inoculated. Single local lesion isolation was performed three times using C. quinoa to obtain a reference isolate for further characterization. N. benthamiana was used for propagation of the isolate. Sap from infected leaves of N. benthamiana was mechanically inoculated into three individual S. lycopersicum cv. Momotaro. Symptoms appearing on inoculated tomatoes were indistinguishable from those of diseased tomato plants found initially in the greenhouse. Flexuous, filamentous particles, ~750 nm long, were observed by electron microscopy in the sap of the tomato plants inoculated with the isolate, indicating that the infecting virus may belong to the family Potyviridae. To determine genomic sequence of the virus, RT-PCR was performed. Total RNA was extracted from the tomato leaves experimentally infected with the isolate using an RNeasy Plant Mini kit (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany). RT-PCR was performed by using a set of universal, degenerate primers for Potyviruses as previously reported (2). Amplicons (~1,500 bp) generated by RT-PCR were extracted from the gels using the QIAquick Gel Extraction kit (QIAGEN) and cloned into pCR-BluntII TOPO (Invitrogen, San Diego, CA). DNA sequences of three individual clones were determined using a combination of plasmid and virus-specific primers, showing that identity among three clones was 99.8%. A consensus nucleotide sequence of the isolate was deposited in GenBank (AB823816). BLASTn analysis of the nucleotide sequence determined showed 99% identity with a partial sequence in the NIb/coat protein (CP) region of Colombian datura virus (CDV) tobacco isolate (JQ801448). Comparison of the amino acid sequence predicted for the CP with previously reported sequences for CDV (AY621656, AJ237923, EU571230, AM113759, AM113754, and AM113761) showed 97 to 100% identity range. Subsequently, CDV infection in both the original and experimentally inoculated plants was confirmed by RT-PCR using CDV-specific primers (CDVv and CDVvc; [1]), and, hence, the causal agent of the tomato disease observed in greenhouse tomatoes was proved to be CDV. The first case of CDV on tomato was reported in Netherlands (3), indicating that CDV was transmitted by aphids from CDV-infected Brugmansia plants cultivated in the same greenhouse. We carefully investigated whether Brugmansia plants naturally grew around the greenhouses, but we could not find them inside or in proximity to the greenhouses. Therefore, sources of CDV inoculum in Japan are still unclear. This is the first report of a mosaic disease caused by CDV on commercially cultivated S. lycopersicum in Japan. References: (1) D. O. Chellemi et al. Plant Dis. 95:755, 2011. (2) J. Chen et al. Arch. Virol. 146:757, 2001. (3) J. Th. J. Verhoeven et al. Eur. J. Plant. Pathol. 102:895, 1996.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 98
Author(s):  
Tri Retno Widyastuti ◽  
Sri Sulandari ◽  
Sedyo Hartono ◽  
Triwidodo Arwiyanto

Grafting methods on tomato have been done to reduce the infection rate of various pathogens. Begomovirus and Crinivirus are important viruses in tomato plants. The research aimed to determine the resistance response of tomato plants to viral infection, and tomato production. Field research was conducted in Harjobinangun, Pakem, Sleman, Yogyakarta in the endemic area of the viral diseases transmitted by Bemisia tabaci. This experiment used a Completely Randomized Design non-factorial with “Servo” as scion and “Amelia”, “H-7996”, “Mawar” as rootstock. The disease development, presence of viral diseases, and tomato yields were observed. PCR detection using Krusty & Hommr primer successfully amplified Begomovirus DNA bands with an approximate size of 580 bp in tomato plant with interveinal chlorosis, curling, thick, rigid, and stunt symptoms. Chlorotic spots and yellowing symptoms successfully amplified using ToCV-CF/ToCV-CR specific primer for the amplification of Tomato chlorosis virus with DNA band approximately size of 360 bp, whereas using TICV-CF/TICV-CR specific primer could not amplify the virus cDNA. The leaves roll upward with purple interveinal symptoms that were not infected by both viruses. Both viral infections affected the quality of the fruit which indicated by a higher number of abnormal fruits. “Servo” grafted onto “Amelia” and non-grafted Servo were tolerant to viral infection, “Servo” grafted onto “H-7996” or to “Mawar variety were susceptible to viral infection, self-grafted Servo were very susceptible to viral infection. 


2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 480-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Madoglio Favara ◽  
Daiana Bampi ◽  
Juan Pablo Edwards Molina ◽  
Jorge Alberto Marques Rezende

Tomato severe rugose virus (ToSRV) and Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) are among the major viruses that affect tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) development and yield in Brazil. ToSRV and ToCV are transmitted in a persistent circulative and semipersistent manner, respectively, by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Middle East-Asia Minor 1, considered the main vector of these viruses. In this study, the kinetics of systemic invasion and the latent and incubation periods of ToSRV and ToCV were evaluated in singly and doubly infected tomato plants. Both viruses moved systemically into tomato plants as early as 1 day after inoculation. The mean ToCV latent periods in single infections and co-infections with ToSRV were 13 and 11 days, respectively, while incubation periods in single and co-infections were, on average, 30 and 31 days, respectively. For ToSRV, the mean latent period was 7 days in single infections and 6 days in co-infections with ToCV. Incubation periods were, on average, 18 and 17 days in single and co-infections, respectively. Because latent periods for both viruses were shorter than their respective incubation periods, field-infected tomato plants may act as sources of inocula soon after infection and before onset of symptoms.


Plant Disease ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Li ◽  
G. C. Wisler ◽  
H.-Y. Liu ◽  
J. E. Duffus

A polyclonal antiserum prepared against purified virions of tomato infectious chlorosis virus (TICV) was used to evaluate serological tests for its detection, to determine its distribution in infected plants, to study relationships among isolates of this virus, and to detect it in field samples. A cRNA probe representing TICV RNA 1 and RNA 2 was used in dot blot hybridization tests. A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was also developed for detection of TICV isolates. The comparative study of these four techniques indicated that RT-PCR was 100-fold more sensitive than enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, and dot blot hybridization assays for TICV detection. TICV was detected in leaf, stem, flower, and root tissues of the infected tomato plants. However, the virus was not uniformly distributed throughout the infected tomato plants, and the highest viral concentration was observed in fully developed young tomato leaves at the onset of yellowing symptoms. The virus was detected by indirect ELISA, Western blot, dot blot hybridization, and RT-PCR assays in laboratory-infected tomato, tomatillo, potato, and Nicotiana clevelandii and in naturally infected tomato, petunia, and Ranunculus sp. plants obtained from commercial sources. These tests indicate that there are apparently no detectable serological or nucleic acid differences among four TICV isolates obtained from Orange and Yolo Counties of California or from North Carolina or Italy.


Plant Disease ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 95 (7) ◽  
pp. 881-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Sundaraj ◽  
R. Srinivasan ◽  
C. G. Webster ◽  
S. Adkins ◽  
K. Perry ◽  
...  

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) are prevalent in field-grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production in Georgia. Typical TYLCV symptoms were observed during varietal trials in fall 2009 and 2010 to screen genotypes against TYLCV at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, GA. However, foliar symptoms atypical of TYLCV including interveinal chlorosis, purpling, brittleness, and mottling on upper and middle leaves and bronzing and intense interveinal chlorosis on lower leaves were also observed. Heavy whitefly (Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), B biotype) infestation was also observed on all tomato genotypes. Preliminary tests (PCR and nucleic acid hybridization) in fall 2009 indicated the presence of TYLCV, TSWV, Cucumber mosaic virus, and Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV); all with the exception of ToCV have been reported in Georgia. Sixteen additional symptomatic leaf samples were randomly collected in fall 2010 and the preliminary results from 2009 were used to guide testing. DNA and RNA were individually extracted using commercially available kits and used for PCR testing for ToCV, TYLCV, and TSWV. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR with ToCV CP gene specific primers (4) produced approximately 750-bp amplicons from nine of the 16 leaf samples. Four of the nine CP gene amplicons were purified and directly sequenced in both directions. The sequences were 99.4 to 100.0% identical with each other (GenBank Accession Nos. HQ879840 to HQ879843). They were 99.3 to 99.5%, 97.2 to 97.5%, and 98.6 to 98.9% identical to ToCV CP sequences from Florida (Accession No. AY903448), Spain (Accession No. DQ136146), and Greece (Accession No. EU284744), respectively. The presence of ToCV was confirmed by amplifying a portion of the HSP70h gene using the primers HSP-1F and HSP-1R (1). RT-PCR produced approximately 900-bp amplicons in the same nine samples. Four HSP70h gene amplicons were purified and directly sequenced in both directions. The sequences were 99.4 to 99.7% identical to each other (Accession Nos. HQ879844 to HQ879847). They were 99.2 to 99.5%, 98.0 to 98.4%, and 98.9 to 99.3% identical to HSP70h sequences from Florida (Accession No. AY903448), Spain (Accession No. DQ136146), and Greece (Accession No. EU284744), respectively. TYLCV was also detected in all 16 samples by PCR using degenerate begomovirus primers PAL1v 1978 and PARIc 496 (3) followed by sequencing. TSWV was also detected in two of the ToCVinfected samples by RT-PCR with TSWV N gene specific primers (2) followed by sequencing. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the natural occurrence of ToCV in Georgia. Further studies are required to quantify the yield losses from ToCV alone and synergistic interactions between ToCV in combination with TSWV and/or TYLCV in tomato production in Georgia. References: (1) T. Hirota et al. J. Gen. Plant Pathol. 76:168, 2010. (2) R. K. Jain et al. Plant Dis. 82:900, 1998. (3) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993. (4) L. Segev et al. Plant Dis. 88:1160, 2004.


Plant Disease ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 592-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. R. Garrido-Ramirez ◽  
R. L. Gilbertson

Whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses are a major constraint on tomato production in Mexico (3). In the Yucatan State, these viruses can cause serious losses in late season plantings. As part of an effort to characterize these viruses, leaf samples from four tomato plants showing symptoms of geminivirus infection, such as stunted growth and leaf mottling and deformation, were collected from a single field in the Yucatan State in February, 1996. Geminivirus nucleic acids were detected in leaf samples from all four plants by squash blot hybridization analysis with a general DNA probe for Western Hemisphere whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses (2). Nicotiana benthamiana plants inoculated with sap prepared with leaf tissue from one plant developed stunted growth and leaf mottling and deformation. When graft-transmitted from N. benthamiana to tomato, the geminivirus(es) induced leaf mottling and deformation, which were similar to symptoms in the field-collected tomato plants. The presence of geminivirus DNA in the sap- and graft-inoculated plants was confirmed with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and degenerate primers for the DNA-A (PAL1v1978 and PAR1c496) or DNA-B (PBL1v2040 and PCRc1) components of whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses (4). Using PCR and these degenerate primers, approximately 1.1-kb DNA-A and approximately 0.6-kb DNA-B fragments were amplified from DNA extracts prepared from leaves of each of the four Yucatan tomato plants. No DNA fragments were amplified from these extracts with primers for pepper huasteco geminivirus (pAL1c2329 and pAL1v1471, or pBR1c840 and pBL1v1830). To determine the identity of the geminivirus(es) infecting these tomato plants, the PCR-amplified DNA-A and DNA-B fragments from one of the samples were cloned and sequenced. Comparisons made with these sequences revealed two distinct types of DNA-A and DNA-B clones, indicating a mixed infection of at least two bipartite geminiviruses. DNA-A and DNA-B sequences of one set of clones were >97% identical to sequences of tomato mottle geminivirus (ToMoV) from Florida (1). The presence of ToMoV in all four tomato leaf samples was demonstrated by the PCR-mediated amplification of a 0.9-kb DNA-A fragment with ToMoV-specific primers (pAL1v2295 and pAR1c580). The identity of this 0.9-kb DNA fragment was further confirmed based upon its hybridization with a full-length clone of ToMoV DNA-A under high stringency conditions (2). A data base search made with the sequence of the other type of DNA-A clone revealed sequence identities of <70% with various bipartite geminiviruses (e.g., identities of 70% with tomato mottle, 69% with Sida golden mosaic, 67% with bean dwarf mosaic, and 66% with taino tomato mottle and with potato yellow mosaic), which confirmed that a second geminivirus was present in a mixed infection with ToMoV in this tomato leaf sample. To confirm the bipartite nature of this geminivirus, a DNA-B fragment that contained the common region (CR) sequence was amplified from the same sample with PCR and primers PBL1v2040 and PBR1c970 (a degenerate primer that anneals within the BV1 open reading frame; F. M. Zerbini and R. L. Gil-bertson, unpublished data), cloned, and sequenced. The CR sequence of this DNA-B fragment was 96% identical to that of the DNA-A fragment, which establishes the presence of another bipartite geminivirus in this sample. This is the first report of ToMoV in Mexico. These results also suggest that at least two bipartite geminiviruses may infect tomatoes in the Yucatan Peninsula. References: (1) A. M. Abouzid et al. J. Gen. Virol. 73:3225, 1992. (2) R. L. Gilbertson et al. Plant Dis. 75:336, 1991. (3) J. E. Polston and P. K. Anderson. Plant Dis. 81:1358, 1997. (4) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.


Plant Disease ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohui Sun ◽  
Ning Qiao ◽  
Xianping Zhang ◽  
Lianyi Zang ◽  
Dan Zhao ◽  
...  

Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) is an extensively cultivated and important economic cucurbit crop in China. In September 2018 and 2019, interveinal chlorosis and yellowing symptoms, suspected to be caused by either tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV; genus Crinivirus) or cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV; genus Crinivirus) or by their co-infection, were observed on zucchini plants in a greenhouse in Shandong Province, China. The incidence of the disease in the greenhouse was 20–30%. To identify the causal agent(s) of the disease, leaf samples from 66 zucchini plants were collected in 14 greenhouses in the cities of Shouguang (n = 12), Dezhou (n = 36), Qingzhou (n = 12), and Zibo (n = 6) in Shandong. Four whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) samples and four symptomatic tomato samples were also collected from these sampling sites (one each for each site) because numerous whiteflies were observed in the sampling greenhouses and ToCV was previously reported in greenhouse tomato plants from these regions (Zhao et al. 2014). To determine whether the symptoms were associated with Crinivirus infection, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using Crinivirus-specific degenerate primers (CriniRdRp251F/CriniRdRp995R) (Wintermantel and Hladky 2010) was performed first on total RNA extracted using the TRIzol protocol (Jordon-Thaden et al. 2015). Thereafter, the RNA samples were subjected to RT-PCR with ToCV- or CCYV-specific primers (Sun et al. 2016; Gan et al. 2019). Of the 66 zucchini samples, 54 tested positive by the degenerate crinivirus primer pair; and among them, 10 tested positive for ToCV only, 40 positive for CCYV only, and 4 positive for both viruses. Interestingly, while both viruses were detected in all B. tabaci samples, only ToCV was detected in the tomato samples (n = 4). To confirm the identity of the viruses, the amplicons of ToCV (four samples each of tomato, B. tabaci and zucchini) and CCYV (four samples each of B. tabaci and zucchini) were Sanger sequenced (Tsingke Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China) after cloning into pMD18-T vectors (Takara, Shiga, Japan). BLASTn analysis demonstrated that all sequences were identical to their respective amplicons. The ToCV sequences (GenBank accession numbers: tomato, MN944406; B. tabaci, MN944404; zucchini, MN944405) shared 100% sequence identity with isolates from Beijing (KT751008, KC887999, KR184675, and KP335046), Hebei (KP217196), and Shandong (KX900412). The CCYV sequence (GenBank accession number MT396249) shared 99.9% sequence identity with isolates China (JN126046, JQ904629, KP896506, KX118632, KY400633, and MK568545), Greece (LT716000, LT716001, LT716002, LT716005, and LT716006), and Cyprus (LT992909, LT992910, and LT992911). To assess the transmissibility of ToCV and CCYV, virus-free B. tabaci (n = 30) were placed in ToCV or CCYV-infected zucchini plants for one day for virus acquisition. Thereafter, the whiteflies were transferred into virus-free zucchini seedlings (cv. ‘Zaoqingyidai’, 4-leaf-stage, n = 6 for each of the control, ToCV and CCYV treatment) for one day. Three weeks after inoculation, all plants that were inoculated with either ToCV or CCYV displayed same symptoms as those observed in the greenhouses, whereas plants in the control group remained symptom free. RT-PCR analysis using ToCV- and CCYV-specific primers confirmed the infection of the plants with the respective virus, whereas control plants were free from the viruses. CCYV has been previously reported on zucchini in Algeria (Kheireddine et al. 2020), Iran (LR585225), and Cyprus (LT992910). To our knowledge, this is the first report of CCYV infection in zucchini in China, and moreover the first report of ToCV infection in zucchini in the world. Clearly, stringent management is needed to minimize the losses caused by these viruses in greenhouse operations in the region.


Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Klap ◽  
Neta Luria ◽  
Elisheva Smith ◽  
Lior Hadad ◽  
Elena Bakelman ◽  
...  

The tobamovirus tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), a major threat to tomato production worldwide, has recently been documented in mixed infections with the potexvirus pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) CH2 strain in traded tomatoes in Israel. A study of greenhouse tomato plants in Israel revealed severe new viral disease symptoms including open unripe fruits and yellow patched leaves. PepMV was only detected in mixed infections with ToBRFV in all 104 tested sites, using serological and molecular analyses. Six PepMV isolates were identified, all had predicted amino acids characteristic of CH2 mild strains excluding an isoleucine at amino acid position 995 of the replicase. High-throughput sequencing of viral RNA extracted from four selected symptomatic plants showed solely the ToBRFV and PepMV, with total aligned read ratios of 40.61% and 11.73%, respectively, indicating prevalence of the viruses. Analyses of interactions between the co-infecting viruses by sequential and mixed viral inoculations of tomato plants, at various temperatures, showed a prominent increase in PepMV titers in ToBRFV pre-inoculated plants and in mixed-infected plants at 18–25 °C, compared to PepMV-single inoculations, as analyzed by Western blot and quantitative RT-PCR tests. These results suggest that Israeli mild PepMV isolate infections, preceded by ToBRFV, could induce symptoms characteristic of PepMV aggressive strains.


Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
Liping Huang ◽  
Xiaobin Shi ◽  
Jizhe Shi ◽  
Zhuo Zhang ◽  
Yong Fang ◽  
...  

Transmission of plant pathogenic viruses mostly relies on insect vectors. Plant virus could enhance its transmission by modulating the vector. Previously, we showed that feeding on virus infected plants can promote the reproduction of the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MED (Q biotype). In this study, using a whitefly-Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV)-tomato system, we investigated how ToCV modulates B. tabaci MED reproduction to facilitate its spread. Here, we hypothesized that ToCV-infected tomato plants would increase B. tabaci MED fecundity via elevated vitellogenin (Vg) gene expression. As a result, fecundity and the relative expression of B. tabaci MED Vg was measured on ToCV-infected and uninfected tomato plants on days 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24. The role of Vg on B. tabaci MED reproduction was examined in the presence and absence of ToCV using dietary RNAi. ToCV infection significantly increased B. tabaci MED fecundity on days 12, 16 and 20, and elevated Vg expression on days 8, 12 and 16. Both ovarian development and fecundity of B. tabaci MED were suppressed when Vg was silenced with or without ToCV infection. These combined results suggest that ToCV infection increases B. tabaci MED fecundity via elevated Vg expression.


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