烟粉虱传播双生病毒的特性及分子机制研究进展

烟粉虱以持久性、可循回的方式传播双生病毒。烟粉虱传毒历经获毒、持毒和传毒3个阶段,烟粉虱体内的病毒受体、病毒蛋白以及寄主植物因子都参与了这个过程。本文综述了影响烟粉虱特异性传播双生病毒的因素以及二者的直接和间接互作。烟粉虱传播双生病毒的特异性不仅与烟粉虱隐种和病毒种类有关,还与烟粉虱体内特定的器官或细胞、烟粉虱和病毒的蛋白以及烟粉虱体内的共生细菌有关。在烟粉虱和双生病毒的长期共进化中,病毒可以通过调控烟粉虱和寄主植物的特性而促进其自身的传播。     

下调烟粉虱MED隐种BtabCSP6表达对番茄黄化曲叶病毒传播的影响

【目的】番茄黄化曲叶病毒(tomato yellow leaf curl virus, TYLCV)是对农业生产造成威胁的主要病毒之一,自然条件下通过媒介昆虫烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci传播。已有研究表明烟粉虱雌成虫比雄成虫具有更强的获毒与传毒能力。本研究旨在探明烟粉虱化学感受蛋白(chemosensory protein, CSP)基因BtabCSP6表达对病毒传播的影响,为控制病毒发生寻找新途径。【方法】使用TYLCV侵染性克隆方法获得带毒番茄植株,微虫笼收集不带毒烟粉虱MED隐种成虫固定在感染TYLCV的番茄植株叶片获毒48 h;利用RT-qPCR技术测定分别取食感染和未感染TYLCV番茄植株的烟粉虱MED隐种雌雄成虫体内BtabCSP1-8基因表达量变化;通过饲喂法利用RNAi对烟粉虱MED隐种雌成虫BtabCSP6基因进行干扰48 h后饲喂TYLCV感染的番茄植株,测定烟粉虱MED隐种雌成虫的获毒率和传毒率。【结果】RT-qPCR检测结果表明,与未侵染的烟粉虱MED隐种雌成虫相比,侵染TYLCV的雌成虫体内BtabCSP3和BtabCSP6基因的表达量变化最为显著。同样地,在侵染TYLCV的雄成虫体内,BtabCSP4和BtabCSP6表达量的变化最为明显。饲喂dsBtabCSP6 48 h后,烟粉虱MED隐种雌成虫体内BtabCSP6表达量降低;取食感染TYLCV番茄植株不同时间烟粉虱MED隐种雌成虫的获毒率和不同数量雌成虫对未感染TYLCV的番茄植株的传毒率与对照相比均显著降低。【结论】下调烟粉虱MED隐种雌成虫体内BtabCSP6基因的表达,可显著降低烟粉虱MED隐种雌成虫的获毒率和传毒率,说明BtabCSP6可能影响TYLCV传播。     

烟粉虱传毒相关蛋白基因的克隆及其表达量分析

【目的】烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)是一种世界性的入侵性害虫,其传播的番茄黄化曲叶病毒(Tomato yellow leaf curl virus,TYLCV)给我国番茄生产造成巨大经济损失。为了阐明烟粉虱传播双生病毒的机理,本文拟研究明确B和Q烟粉虱体内传毒相关蛋白Gro EL基因及其表达量。【方法】采用特异性引物克隆了B和Q烟粉虱内共生菌编码的传毒相关蛋白Gro EL基因,并进行序列分析;并利用荧光定量PCR技术检测两种生物型及其获取双生病毒前后该基因的相对表达量。【结果】烟粉虱内共生菌Hamiltonella编码的Gro EL基因全长为1 668 bp,编码555个氨基酸;B、Q烟粉虱该基因的核苷酸序列相似性为99.94%,氨基酸同源性为99.82%;带毒烟粉虱中Gro EL基因的表达量显著高于未带毒的对应生物型烟粉虱;无论带毒与否,Q烟粉虱该基因的表达量均显著高于B(P<0.05)。【结论】烟粉虱携带TYLCV后可诱导Gro EL的表达量升高,B和Q烟粉虱中Gro EL基因及其表达量均存在差异,这可能是B和Q烟粉虱传毒效率存在显著差异的原因之一。     

烟粉虱MEAM1和MED成虫在辣椒上传播番茄褪绿病毒的特性

【目的】分析与比较烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci MEAM1和MED成虫在辣椒Capsicum annuum植株上对番茄褪绿病毒(tomato chlorosis virus, ToCV)的传播差异,解析媒介昆虫-病毒-寄主植物间的互作关系,为田间辣椒上ToCV防治提供参考。【方法】利用烟粉虱MEAM1和MED成虫及ToCV cDNA侵染性克隆,对烟粉虱MEAM1和MED成虫在辣椒植株上获取和传播ToCV的能力进行比较,同时比较烟粉虱MEAM1和MED成虫在健康和携带ToCV辣椒植株上的取食偏好。【结果】在感染ToCV的辣椒植株上接虫后96 h内,烟粉虱MEAM1和MED成虫体内病毒积累量逐渐增加,MED成虫获毒速度和病毒积累量均大于MEAM1成虫的,MED成虫获毒量是MEAM1成虫的1.74倍;MED成虫在辣椒植株上的传毒量明显高于MEAM1成虫,传毒量平均相差9倍,且MED成虫传毒率比MEAM1成虫高29%。MEAM1和MED成虫对健康和感染ToCV的辣椒植株的取食偏好相似,都明显倾向于取食被ToCV侵染的辣椒植株。【结论】烟粉虱MED成虫在辣椒植株上获取、传播ToCV的能力均高于烟粉虱MEAM1成虫,这也是ToCV在我国大面积发生的一个重要原因。     

烟粉虱及海氏桨角蚜小蜂对中国番茄黄化曲叶病毒感染烟草的嗅觉反应

双生病毒可通过调控寄主植物促进媒介昆虫烟粉虱种群增长,然而病毒侵染植物后是否通过调控植物挥发物来影响烟粉虱及其天敌的嗅觉反应还未见报道。【目的】本文旨在研究烟草植株感染中国番茄黄化曲叶病毒(Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus,TYLCCNV)后对烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)及其重要寄生性天敌海氏桨角蚜小蜂Eretmocerus hayati(Zolnerowich and Rose)嗅觉反应行为的影响。【方法】利用Y形嗅觉仪方法,我们测试了烟粉虱及海氏桨角蚜小蜂对带毒植株、健康植株及烟粉虱危害植株的选择偏好性。【结果】烟粉虱及海氏桨角蚜小蜂选择携带TYLCCNV病毒的烟草显著多于健康烟草植株,但烟草被病毒与烟粉虱共同侵染时,烟粉虱对带毒烟草的选择仍显著多于无毒植株,而寄生蜂虽然仍较多选择带毒植株,但无显著差异。【结论】这些结果表明烟粉虱及海氏桨角蚜小蜂偏好选择携带TYLCCNV病毒的烟草,但这种偏好作用在烟粉虱取食共同危害时有一定程度的减弱。本研究首次报道了双生病毒侵染植物可增加烟粉虱及其天敌对植物的选择作用,并就其功能及机制进行了讨论。     

番茄褪绿病毒对MED烟粉虱成虫在不同寄主植物上的寄主选择性和取食行为的影响

【目的】由粉虱传播的番茄褪绿病毒(tomato chlorosis virus, ToCV)具有较强的暴发性和流行性,目前该病毒现已蔓延至世界各地,可为害多种作物,对农林经济生产造成严重危害。病毒侵染会影响介体昆虫的寄主选择性和取食行为,从而影响病毒传播。本研究旨在明确ToCV对MED烟粉虱Bemisiatabaci在不同寄主上的寄主选择性及取食行为的影响。【方法】利用Y型嗅觉仪测定携带和未携带ToCV的MED烟粉虱雌成虫的寄主选择性,利用刺吸电位(electrical penetration graph, EPG)技术比较携带和未携带ToCV的烟粉虱雌成虫在健康的番茄、辣椒、棉花和豇豆4种寄主植株上的取食行为差异。【结果】未携带ToCV的MED型烟粉虱雌成虫对于4种寄主植物的选择偏好性排序为番茄、辣椒＞棉花＞豇豆;携带ToCV烟粉虱雌成虫对4种寄主植物的选择性偏好性降低,排序为番茄、辣椒、棉花＞豇豆。与未携带ToCV烟粉虱雌成虫相比,携带ToCV烟粉虱雌成虫取食4种植物所产生的刺探次数均显著增加,第1次到达韧皮部的时间有明显延后,取食总时间与韧皮部的取食时间明显减少。【结论】ToCV使烟粉虱对寄主的选择偏好性和取食行为发生显著改变,从而增加了病毒在寄主植物间传播的可能。     

番茄感染双生病毒对叶毛密度和海氏桨角蚜小蜂搜寻行为及适合性的影响

植物病毒可通过影响植物形态和生理特性从而对媒介昆虫和寄生性天敌产生作用。然而, 在植物 媒介昆虫 寄生蜂三营养级关系研究中有关植物病毒的影响很少被考虑。本研究测定和分析了番茄植株感染番茄黄化曲叶病毒（tomato yellow leaf curl virus, TYLCV)后叶毛密度的变化及对烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)重要寄生性天敌海氏桨角蚜小蜂Eretmocerus hayati Zolnerowich and Rose行为与适合性的影响。结果表明： 携带TYLCV病毒番茄植株叶毛密度显著增加, 为健康植株叶毛密度的1.8倍。海氏桨角蚜小蜂在带毒植株叶片上的寄主处置时间和寄主块停留时间显著长于其在健康植株叶片上的时间, 分别为其2倍和1.5倍, 但寄生蜂的寄生率、 羽化率及发育历期差异不显著(P>0.05)。本文首次报道了双生病毒侵染可引起叶毛密度的增加, 对理解植物-双生病毒-烟粉虱-寄生蜂四方关系提供了新的数据。     

新疆地区烟粉虱生物型的区域分布及其携带的番茄黄化曲叶病毒检测

【目的】明确不同烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)生物型在新疆地区的区域分布及其携带番茄黄化曲叶病毒的情况。【方法】本文利用烟粉虱mtDNA COⅠ基因片段作标记以及番茄黄化曲叶病毒(tomato yellow leaf curl virus, TYLCV)特异性引物, 鉴定新疆不同地区烟粉虱生物型, 并检测其携带TYLCV情况。【结果】石河子市、 博乐市、 岳普湖县、 泽普县、 叶城县、 莎车县、 墨玉县、 和田市与和田县烟粉虱属于B型烟粉虱, 且720 bp COⅠ基因序列一致性为100%; 阿克苏市、 哈密市、 鄯善县、 乌鲁木齐市、 克拉玛依市与伊宁市烟粉虱属于Q型烟粉虱, 720 bp COⅠ基因序列一致性为99.9%~100%; 吐鲁番市与库尔勒市兼有B型烟粉虱和Q型烟粉虱。伊宁市、 乌鲁木齐市、 鄯善县、 哈密市、 阿克苏市、 库尔勒市、 莎车县、 和田县和墨玉县的烟粉虱样本携带TYLCV, 除2011年底已经暴发危害的莎车县外, 其他区域均为番茄黄化曲叶病毒病发生的高风险区域。【结论】本研究为新疆地区烟粉虱及番茄黄化曲叶病毒病的科学防控提供依据。     

番茄褪绿病毒TaqMan荧光定量PCR快速检测方法的建立与应用

【目的】本研究旨在建立TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR(TaqMan RT-qPCR)技术,快速检测单头烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci体内的番茄褪绿病毒(tomato chlorosis virus,ToCV)。【方法】根据ToCV外壳蛋白保守序列设计了1对特异性引物和1条TaqMan探针,建立了TaqMan RT-qPCR方法;与常规PCR检测进行比较,检测该方法的灵敏度与特异性;并应用该方法对单头烟粉虱成虫体内ToCV进行了快速检测。【结果】本研究构建的TaqMan RT-qPCR检测ToCV的标准曲线,其循环阈值(Ct值)与模板浓度具有良好的线性关系,扩增效率为98%。该方法对ToCV的最低检测浓度为8.3×10 copies/μL,灵敏度是常规RT-PCR的1000倍。该方法与田间番茄两种重要病毒番茄黄化曲叶病毒(tomato yellow leaf curl virus,TYLCV)和番茄斑萎病毒(tomato spotted wilt virus,TSWV)检测无交叉反应。单头烟粉虱成虫ToCV检测结果表明,温室内ToCV侵染植株上烟粉虱携毒率为100%,田间烟粉虱的携毒率为30%。【结论】本研究建立的TaqMan RT-qPCR检测方法,可快速有效检测单头烟粉虱体内ToCV携毒情况,为该病毒病的防控提供了技术支撑。     

两个入侵烟粉虱隐种MEAM1与MED对番茄黄曲叶病毒水平传播能力的比较

【目的】烟粉虱 Bemisia tabaci 是番茄黄曲叶病毒（Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, TYLCV）在自然界的唯一传播媒介,除了可以直接取食获取TYLCV,烟粉虱还可以通过交配获取此植物病毒。虽然前人研究证明了烟粉虱Middle East-Asia Minor 1 （MEAM1）和Mediterranean （MED）隐种都可以通过交配在两性个体之间水平传播TYLCV,但有关MEAM1与MED隐种水平传播TYLCV的能力是否存在差异,不同研究的结果却并不一致。另外,目前尚无关于烟粉虱的水平传播行为是否有助于TYLCV在田间扩散的相关研究。【方法】从浙江、广东、云南和河南4个省份的田间采集MEAM1和MED隐种烟粉虱种群,在室内应用分子标记对各种群所属隐种鉴定后分别建立7个供试种群,然后观察每个种群内带毒成虫与不带毒成虫通过交配在不同性别个体之间水平传播TYLCV的能力,并选用采自广东的MEAM1隐种烟粉虱模拟群体交配实验探究通过交配获毒的烟粉虱个体是否具有传播TYLCV致健康番茄植株发病的能力。【结果】4个省内的MEAM1和MED隐种烟粉虱都可通过交配对TYLCV进行水平传播,但传播频率一般在10%以下。不同省份的MEAM1隐种种群之间在水平传播TYLCV的能力上无显著差异,不同省份的MED隐种种群之间也不存在显著差异。另外,同一省份的MEAM1隐种与MED隐种之间在水平传播TYLCV的能力上也不存在显著差异,而且在两个隐种中,带毒雄虫将病毒水平传播给不带毒雌虫与带毒雌虫将病毒水平传播给不带毒雄虫的频率没有显著差异。研究还表明,采自广东的MEAM1隐种烟粉虱个体通过交配水平获毒后不能致健康番茄植株发病。【结论】综合以上结果,我们推测TYLCV在中国境内两个入侵烟粉虱隐种MEAM1和MED各自种群内个体之间的水平传播概率较低,对该病毒在田间的扩散可能没有作用或作用不大。     

Ingestion, transmission, and persistence of Chino del tomate virus (CdTV), a New World begomovirus, by Old and New World biotypes of the whitefly vector Bemisia tabaci

Two whitefly biotypes of Bemisia tabaci, from either the Eastern or Western Hemisphere, respectively, were compared with respect to their competency to ingest and their efficiency to transmit the New World begomovirus, Chino del tomate virus (CdTV). The AZ A biotype of B.tabaci originates from the arid southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico, while the B biotype has an origin in the Middle East or Northern Africa. The ability of these two vector biotypes to ingest and subsequently to transmit CdTV were evaluated for an acquisition‐access period (AAP) that ranged from 0 to 72 h, followed by a 48 h inoculation‐access period (IAP). Individual adult whiteflies were monitored for CdTV ingestion using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the viral coat protein gene (AV1 ORF), and transmission efficiency (frequency) was determined by allowing potentially viruliferous whiteflies access to tomato seedlings following each experimental AAP. PCR results for individual adult whiteflies indicated that CdTV was ingested from infected tomato plants by both biotypes 93% of the time. Transmission frequencies by both vector biotypes increased with longer AAPs. However, the AZ A biotype transmitted CdTV 50% of the time, compared to only 27% for the B biotype. Evidence that virus was ingested with equal competency by the A and B biotypes confirmed that both vectors were capable of ingesting CdTV from tomato at the same frequency, even when the AAP was 0.5 h. Consequently, either the acquisition and/or transmission stages of the pathway, rather than ingestion competency, were responsible for differences in vector‐mediated transmissibility. Detection frequency of CdTV, after 48 h AAP, by PCR in single females of AZ B biotype was significantly higher than males.     

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus infection of tomato does not affect the performance of the Q and ZHJ2 biotypes of the viral vector Bemisia tabaci

Abstract To better understand the etiology of begomovirus epidemics in regions under invasion we need to know how indigenous and invasive whitefly vectors respond to virus infection. We investigated both direct and indirect effects of infection with Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) on the performance of the invasive Q biotype and the indigenous Asian ZHJ2 biotype of whitefly Bemisia tabaci. The Q biotype performed better than the ZHJ2 biotype on either uninfected or virus‐infected tomato plants. However, virus‐infection of host plants did not, or only marginally affected, the performance of either biotype of whiteflies in terms of fecundity, longevity, survival, development and population increase. Likewise, association of the vectors with TYLCV did not affect fecundity and longevity of the Q or ZHJ2 biotypes on cotton, a non‐host of TYLCV. These results indicate that the alien Q biotype whitefly, but not the indigenous ZHJ2 biotype, is likely to become the major vector of TYLCV in the field and facilitate virus epidemics.     

A shift of vector specificity acquired by a begomovirus through natural homologous recombination

Recombination is common in plant viruses such as geminiviruses, but the ecological and pathogenic consequences have been explored only in a few cases. Here, we found that a new begomovirus, tomato yellow leaf curl Shuangbai virus (TYLCSbV), probably originated from the recombination of Ageratum yellow vein China virus (AYVCNV) and tobacco curl shoot virus (TbCSV). Agrobacterium-mediated inoculation showed that TYLCSbV and AYVCNV have similar levels of infectivity on tomato and tobacco plants. However, the two viruses exhibit contrasting specificities for vector transmission, that is, TYLCSbV was efficiently transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean (MED) rather than by the whitefly B. tabaci Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1), whereas AYVCNV was more efficiently transmitted by MEAM1. We also showed that the transmission efficiencies of TYLCSbV and AYVCNV are positively correlated with the accumulation of the viruses in whitefly whole bodies and organs/tissues. The key coat protein amino acids that determine their accumulation are between positions 147 and 256. Moreover, field surveys suggest that MED has displaced MEAM1 in some regions where TYLCSbV was collected. Viral competition assays indicated that TYLCSbV outcompeted AYVCNV when transmitted by MED, while the outcome was the opposite when transmitted by MEAM1. Our findings suggest that recombination has resulted in a shift of vector specificity that could provide TYLCSbV with a potential selective transmission advantage, and the population shift of whitefly cryptic species could have influenced virus evolution towards an extended trajectory of transmission.     

Effect of geminivirus infection and Bemisia infestation on accumulation of pathogenesis-related proteins in tomato

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci biotype B, has been shown to cause pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins to accumulate in plants as a result of direct feeding, but their specific role in plant defensive systems is unclear. Our objective was to compare accumulation of tomato PR proteins (beta-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, peroxidase, P2 and P4) in response to whitefly, with or without tomato mottle virus (ToMoV) infection. Tomato PR protein response was measured over time in plants divided into three treatments: uninfected controls (with or without whiteflies) and plants infested with viruliferous (ToMoV) whiteflies. Five- to six-leaf plants were infested with approximately 5 adult whitefly per leaf. Plants were sampled prior to whitefly infestation and at 14, 28, 42, and 56 days. By 56 days, plants infested with viruliferous whiteflies had significantly more eggs (2.5-fold) and nymphs (4.5-fold) than plants with nonviruliferous whiteflies. A significant increase in the enzymatic activity of all measured PR proteins, as compared to control plants, was only seen in viruliferous whitefly-infested plants. No significant difference was observed in enzyme activities between the uninfected control plants either with or without whiteflies. The greatest differences for all PR proteins assayed were observed 42 days after treatment initiation. Protein blot analyses showed that the differences in PR protein activities among the treatments were due to changes in specific enzyme levels within the plant and were associated with concomitant increases in levels of P2 and P4 PR proteins. Under our experimental conditions, it is clear that PR protein response is much more intense when it is attacked by whiteflies carrying ToMoV than by whitefly alone.     

Tomato yellow leaf curl geminivirus (TYLCV-Is) is transmitted among whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) in a sex-related manner

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is the name given to a complex of geminiviruses infecting tomato cultures worldwide. TYLCV is transmitted by a single insect species, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Herein we show that a TYLCV isolate from Israel (TYLCV-Is) can be transmitted among whiteflies in a sex-dependent manner, in the absence of any other source of virus. TYLCV was transmitted from viruliferous males to females and from viruliferous females to males but not among insects of the same sex. Transmission took place when insects were caged in groups or in couples, in a feeding chamber or on cotton plants, a TYLCV nonhost. The recipient insects were able to efficiently inoculate tomato test plants. Insect-to-insect virus transmission was instrumental in increasing the number of whiteflies capable of infecting tomato test plants in a whitefly population. TYLCV was present in the hemolymph of whiteflies caged with viruliferous insects of the other sex; therefore, the virus follows, at least in part, the circulative pathway associated with acquisition from infected plants. Taken as a whole, these results imply that a plant virus can be sexually transmitted from insect to insect.     

Transmission of tomato leaf curl geminiviruses by Bemisia tabaci: effects of virus isolate and vector biotype

Cultures of Bemisia tabaci from Ivory Coast (IC), Pakistan (PK) and USA (US B-type) were compared for the frequency with which they transmitted three tomato geminivirus isolates: Indian tomato leaf curl virus from Bangalore (ITmLCV), and tomato yellow leaf curl viruses from Nigeria (TYLCV-Nig) and Senegal (TYLCV-Sen). Frequency of transmission from tomato to tomato depended both on the whitefly culture and the virus isolate. US B-type and IC whiteflies transmitted TYLCV-Sen more frequently than ITmLCV whereas PK whiteflies transmitted ITmLCV more frequently than TYLCV-Sen. US B-type whiteflies transmitted both viruses four to nine times more frequently than IC whiteflies. TYLCV-Nig was transmitted rarely by US B-type and not at all by IC whiteflies. Previous work indicates that the geminivirus coat protein controls vector transmissibility. The differential adaptation of TYLCV-Sen to transmission by US B-type whiteflies and of ITmLCV to PK whiteflies was associated with a large difference in epitope profile of the coat proteins of the two viruses. Also, the readily transmissible TYLCV-Sen differed appreciably in epitope profile from the poorly transmissible TYLCV-Nig, which reached a consistently greater concentration in source tissues but lacked epitope 18. However, the lack of epitope 18 in ITmLCV did not prevent its transmission by US B-type whiteflies. Differences in frequency and specificity of geminivirus transmission by whitefly cultures from different countries therefore were associated with differences among epitope profiles of the coat proteins of the viruses, but the structural features of the proteins that control transmission remain to be determined.     

Transmitting Plant Viruses Using Whiteflies

Whiteflies, Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae, Bemisia tabaci, a complex of morphologically indistinquishable species⁵, are vectors of many plant viruses. Several genera of these whitefly-transmitted plant viruses (Begomovirus, Carlavirus, Crinivirus, Ipomovirus, Torradovirus) include several hundred species of emerging and economically significant pathogens of important food and fiber crops (reviewed by^9,10,16). These viruses do not replicate in their vector but nevertheless are moved readily from plant to plant by the adult whitefly by various means (reviewed by^{2,6,7,9,10,11,17}). For most of these viruses whitefly feeding is required for acquisition and inoculation, while for others only probing is required. Many of these viruses are unable or cannot be easily transmitted by other means. Therefore maintenance of virus cultures, biological and molecular characterization (identification of host range and symptoms)^3,13, ecology^2,12, require that the viruses be transmitted to experimental hosts using the whitefly vector. In addition the development of new approaches to management, such as evaluation of new chemicals¹⁴ or compounds¹⁵, new cultural approaches^1,4,19, or the selection and development of resistant cultivars^7,8,18, requires the use of whiteflies for virus transmission. The use of whitefly transmission of plant viruses for the selection and development of resistant cultivars in breeding programs is particularly challenging⁷. Effective selection and screening for resistance employs large numbers of plants and there is a need for 100% of the plants to be inoculated in order to find the few genotypes which possess resistance genes. These studies use very large numbers of viruliferous whiteflies, often several times per year.Whitefly maintenance described here can generate hundreds or thousands of adult whiteflies on plants each week, year round, without the contamination of other plant viruses. Plants free of both whiteflies and virus must be produced to introduce into the whitefly colony each week. Whitefly cultures must be kept free of whitefly pathogens, parasites, and parasitoids that can reduce whitefly populations and/or reduce the transmission efficiency of the virus. Colonies produced in the manner described can be quickly scaled to increase or decrease population numbers as needed, and can be adjusted to accommodate the feeding preferences of the whitefly based on the plant host of the virus.There are two basic types of whitefly colonies that can be maintained: a nonviruliferous and a viruliferous whitefly colony. The nonviruliferous colony is composed of whiteflies reared on virus-free plants and allows the weekly availability of whiteflies which can be used to transmit viruses from different cultures. The viruliferous whitefly colony, composed of whiteflies reared on virus-infected plants, allows weekly availability of whiteflies which have acquired the virus thus omitting one step in the virus transmission process.     

Different effects of exogenous jasmonic acid on preference and performance of viruliferous Bemisia tabaci B and Q

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), B and Q biotypes have caused severe losses to crops and vegetables through virus transmission. Our previous studies showed that Q is more efficient than B in acquisition and transmission of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and viruliferous Q is better equipped than B in counterattacking jasmonic acid (JA)‐related plant defense. To understand how plant‐mediated defensive responses involving JA affect insect vectors within a tritrophic framework of plants, insects, and viruses, we examined the effects of exogenous JA on preference and performance of non‐viruliferous and viruliferous B and Q on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L., Solanaceae). Our results demonstrated a significantly lower fecundity, shorter longevity, shorter developmental time, and lower survival rate of whiteflies on JA‐treated than on control plants. In addition, viruliferous Q performed significantly better than B in fecundity, longevity, developmental time, and survival rate. When given a choice between JA‐treated and control tomato plants, viruliferous Q was not repelled to JA‐treated plants when the JA concentration was 0.01 and 0.1 mm , whereas others all preferred the untreated control plants. Exogenous JA increased the concentration and the composition of plant volatiles, such as α‐terpinene and β‐ocimene, which deterred whiteflies in a Y‐tube bioassay. It is worth noting that Q has a mutualistic relationship with TYLCV to counteract the host defenses. A better understanding of tritrophic interactions between plants, insects, and viruses will facilitate the development of sustainable management of this invasive global pest.