Rapid identification of adult whiteflies in plant consignments using monoclonal antibodies

A rapid and simple method for the identification of adult whiteflies (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) would be valuable, both to facilitate pest management decision making and, more importantly, to prevent the introduction of new pests into non-infested areas. Considering the enormous economic losses that have resulted in the recent past from the accidental introduction of harmful species, there is a clear and urgent need for a reliable antibody-based test kit that would allow non-specialist growers, extension workers and customs authorities to identify whiteflies. As a first step in this process, this paper describes the development and characterisation of monoclonal antibodies capable of distinguishing between major pest species of whitefly, and application of these antibodies in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A monoclonal antibody is described that reacts strongly with both male and female Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) but not with either Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) or B. argentifolii Bellows & Perring. A second antibody is reported that gives a strong response to female Bemisia sp. that does not react with T. vaporariorum of either sex. The two antibodies used in combination provide a powerful means of distinguishing between adult whitefly, particularly at low levels of infestation in plant consignments, when pupae cannot easily be found.     

Biology and comparative predation efficacy of three heteropteran species recorded as predators ofBemisia tabaci in Maharashtra

Two mirids,Deraeocoris sp. andCampylomma nicolasi Reuter and one lygaeid,Geocoris ochropterus Fieber were found preying onB. tabaci (Gennadius) for the first time in Maharashtra State of India during 1987–88. Their biology and predation capacity onB. tabaci were studied in detail under laboratory conditions. The nymphal stage ofDeraeocoris sp. passed through 6 instars, whereas 5 instars in case of the remaining species.G. ochropterus, Deraeocoris sp. andC. nicolasi consumed on an average 482.5, 275.3 and 128.8 nymphs of 57.3, 25.5 and 20.6 days, respectively. On the basis of consumption rate per day,Deraeocoris sp. proved to be a superior predator. Part of Ph. D. Thesis submitted to Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani 431402, India.     

Agroecological basis for the design of biotechnological traps based on Isaria fumosorosea for the biological control of Bemisia tabaci in strawberry crops

Isaria fumosorosea is an entomopathogenic fungus that is used as a control alternative for nymphs and adults of Bemisia tabaci. Currently there are some commercial products, however, in greenhouse or field, these do not reach the levels of control as in the laboratory because the viability of the spores decreases as a result of the conditions of application of these products in situ. The objective of this work is to implement, through agroecological data, a system of biotechnological traps based on I. fumosorosea to increase the control efficiency mainly of adults of B. tabaci in strawberry greenhouses. One way to quantify the degree of infestation of a crop is the use of yellow traps, likewise to determine the spatial distribution of adults. The Taylor method [(1984). Assessing and interpreting the spatial distributions of insect populations. Annual Reviews of Entomology, 29, 321–357) was used in five different strawberry cultivation models, finding aggregate and regular distributions. Finally, once the crop model with the highest degree of infestation was selected, the designed traps were tested and mortalities were obtained between 50% and 90% in both the laboratory and the greenhouse. The biotechnological traps based on I. fumosorosea both in the laboratory and in the greenhouse had statistically the same effect as those used under the traditional method used in the field that is aspersion; therefore, this alternative method of application can be a tool important for the biological control of this pest.     

豇豆轻斑驳病毒CPMMV感染菜豆对B型烟粉虱寄主选择和生物学特性的影响

豇豆轻斑驳病毒（Cowpea mild mottle virus,CPMMV）的流行与其媒介昆虫烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci密切相关,但CPMMV感染寄主植物对B型烟粉虱寄主选择行为和生物学特性的影响尚不清楚。本研究探究了1）CPMMV感染菜豆Phaseolus vulgaris不同时间对B型烟粉虱寄主选择和产卵偏好性的影响;2）CPMMV感染菜豆对B型烟粉虱生物学特性的影响。结果发现：1）相较于健康菜豆,摩擦接种CPMMV后1周,B型烟粉虱却偏好在CPMMV感染的植株上停留和产卵;而摩擦接种后4周,B型烟粉虱却偏好在健康的植株上停留和产卵;2）无论是在摩擦接种后1周和4周的CPMMV感染植株上,B型烟粉虱在健康和CPMMV感染植株上的产卵量和存活率差异不明显。可见,CPMMV感染菜豆对于B型烟粉虱的寄主选择偏好性具有时间效应,而CPMMV感染菜豆对于B型烟粉虱的生物学特性没有显著影响。     

HopAZ1, a type III effector of Pseudomonas amygdali pv. tabaci,induces a hypersensitive response in tobacco wildfire-resistant Nicotiana tabacum ‘N509’

Pseudomonas amygdali pv. tabaci (formerly Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci; Pta) is a gram-negative bacterium that causes bacterial wildfire disease in Nicotiana tabacum. The pathogen establishes infections by using a type III secretion system to inject type III effector proteins (T3Es) into cells, thereby interfering with the host__s immune system. To counteract the effectors, plants have evolved disease-resistance genes and mechanisms to induce strong resistance on effector recognition. By screening a series of Pta T3E-deficient mutants, we have identified HopAZ1 as the T3E that induces disease resistance in N. tabacum ‘N509’. Inoculation with the Pta ∆hopAZ1 mutant did not induce resistance to Pta in N509. We also found that the Pta ∆hopAZ1 mutant did not induce a hypersensitive response and promoted severe disease symptoms in N509. Furthermore, a C-terminal truncated HopAZ1 abolished HopAZ1-dependent cell death in N509. These results indicate that HopAZ1 is the avirulence factor that induces resistance to Pta by N509.     

Genetic diversity and geographic distribution of Bemisia tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum in Costa Rica

The tobacco whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) cryptic species complex and of the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) are extensively reported as destructive pests in vegetable crops worldwide. A survey was conducted in 2011 and 2012 to determine the occurrence and genetic diversity present in the populations of these whiteflies in the major vegetable production areas of Costa Rica. Insect samples were collected from sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and weeds present in commercial crops either in open field or greenhouse conditions. PCR‐RFLP analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (mtCOI) sequences of 621 whitefly individuals confirmed the presence of the Mediterranean (MED) type of the B. tabaci and of T. vaporariorum in most sampled regions. Also, individuals of the Middle East‐Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) type of the B. tabaci were observed in low numbers. Contingency analyses based on type of crop, geographical region, whitefly species, year of collection and production system confirmed that T. vaporariorum was the most frequent species in vegetable production areas in Costa Rica, both in greenhouses and in open fields. B. tabaci MED is likely spreading to new areas of the country, whereas B. tabaci MEAM1 was mostly absent or rarely found. Comparisons of mtCOI sequences from B. tabaci individuals revealed the presence of four B. tabaci sequence haplotypes (named MED‐i, MED‐ii, MEAM1‐i, MEAM1‐xviii) in Costa Rica, three of them identical to B. tabaci haplotypes previously reported in the Western Hemisphere and other parts of the world. Analysis of sequences of T. vaporariorum individuals revealed a more complex population with the presence of 11 haplotypes, two of which were identical to T. vaporariorum sequences reported from other countries.     

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。     

B型烟粉虱对不同茄子品种的选择及适生性分析

【目的】研究烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)对同种寄主不同品种的选择性及适生性,可为该寄主抗性品种的选育和烟粉虱的综合治理提供理论依据。【方法】在温度(29±2)℃、湿度80%±5%的自然光照温室内,进行B型烟粉虱对不同茄子品种的选择性以及这些品种对其生长发育、繁殖、存活和生命表参数的影响实验。【结果】B型烟粉虱对茄子不同品种的选择及适生性具有一定的差异,在14个茄子品种或材料中,B型烟粉虱对黑马紫长茄的选择性最强,对龙茄1号的选择性最弱;B型烟粉虱从卵发育到成虫的存活率在辽茄3号上最低,在龙茄1号上最高;世代发育历期在辽茄3号上最短,在徐州长茄上最长。此外,B型烟粉虱在苏崎茄、扬茄1号和紫圆茄上的种群趋势指数(I)分别为68.7215、37.4675、25.6245,表明B型烟粉虱对这3个品种的适生性为苏崎茄>扬茄1号>紫圆茄。     

烟粉虱及温室白粉虱为害后对后续粉虱种群的影响

【目的】分析烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)或温室白粉虱Trialeurodes vaporariorum(Westwood)为害番茄后对后续温室白粉虱和烟粉虱生长、发育、成虫寿命和繁殖等产生的促进或抑制作用,可为明确寄主植物番茄介导的温室白粉虱-烟粉虱的种间互作,开展粉虱的科学防控提供科学依据。【方法】通过在寄主植物番茄叶片上先将B型烟粉虱或温室白粉虱按不同的顺序、时间间隔分开接种,再系统观察后续接上的两种粉虱生长、发育、繁殖等种群参数的变化。【结果】(1)先期接上烟粉虱对后续温室白粉虱的发育、寿命、产卵量有明显的促进作用;这种作用需烟粉虱的持续诱导,若去掉烟粉虱,其对温室白粉虱的促进作用即消失;先期接上温室白粉虱可缩短后续烟粉虱伪蛹期,但温室白粉虱的持续存在不利于烟粉虱的产卵,且明显降低烟粉虱的内禀增长率和净增殖率。(2)先后在番茄上同时接上温室白粉虱可降低后续烟粉虱的单雌产卵量和雌、雄虫的成虫寿命;先后同时接种烟粉虱却显著地增加了温室白粉虱的单雌产卵量;烟粉虱的提前存在降低了后续烟粉虱单雌产卵量。(3)但两种粉虱之间作用存在着一定的时间滞后性。烟粉虱对温室白粉虱的发育、寿命、产卵量产生的促进作用大约在其卵期后的一段时间才能显现出来;温室白粉虱对烟粉虱伪蛹期的缩短作用也需提前诱导;而温室白粉虱对温室白粉虱的促进作用相当滞后,直到成虫期才显现出来。【结论】B型烟粉虱和温室白粉虱之间可通过寄主番茄产生相互影响,前期烟粉虱为害可显著促进后续温室白粉虱卵和若虫的发育,而前期温室白粉虱为害对烟粉虱的发育不利。