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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #163797
Title: BEGOMOVIRUS REPLICATION IN BEMISIA TABACI

Author
item McKenzie, Cindy
item SINISTERRA, XIOMARA - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item Hunter, Wayne
item Shatters, Robert - Bob

Submitted to: Entomology International Congress
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2004
Publication Date: 8/15/2004
Citation: Mckenzie, C.L., Sinisterra, X.H., Hunter, W.B., Shatters, R.G. 2004. Begomovirus replication in bemisia tabaci. Entomology International Congress.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Plant pathogenic begomoviruses have a complex association with the whitefly, their insect vector, and aspects concerning viral genetic activity (genome replication and gene transcription) within their insect vector remain highly controversial. Selected gene transcripts of Tomato mottle (ToMoV) and Tomato yellow leaf curl (TYLCV) begomoviruses were quantified in whiteflies after feeding on virus infected tomato plants and after subsequent transfer to cotton (a non-host for the selected begomoviruses). Real time rt-PCR (RT rt-PCR) was performed using specific primers for three ToMoV genes: AV1, BC1, BV1, and three TYLCV genes: V1, V2, and C3. The ToMoV gene transcripts were rapidly lost in whiteflies transferred from tomato to cotton, while, TYLCV transcripts increase in whiteflies transferred to cotton and allowed to feed on cotton for up to seven days. Plant viral transcriptional activity within the insect vector was associated with lower viral DNA titer in the plant and different viral DNA allocation patterns within the whitefly. This is the first quantitative report of a plant DNA virus transcriptional activity in an insect vector, and correlation of this activity with viral DNA abundance in the plant.