Crop Improvement and Protection Research Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
 

Title: REDUCING VIRUS ASSOCIATED CROP LOSS THROUGH RESISTANCE TO INSECT VECTORS

Authors
item Mutschler, Martha - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item Wintermantel, William

Submitted to: Natural Resistance Mechanisms of Plants to Viruses
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: April 7, 2005
Publication Date: April 24, 2006
Citation: Mutschler, M.A., Wintermantel, W.M. 2006. Reducing virus associated crop loss through resistance to insect vectors. Natural Resistance Mechanisms of Plants to Viruses. G. Loebenstein and J.P. Carr (eds.)241-260.

Interpretive Summary: Control of pests and diseases is a major challenge to agricultural production. As insect resistant crops are developed, the question arises as to whether effective insect resistance could be a component in an integrated strategy for control of insect transmitted viruses. The viability of this option depends on the virus, vector, and host plant targeted, the interactions of these organisms, the type of pest resistance available, and how the resistance impacts these interactions. Pest resistance mechanisms that require the pest to feed I order to ingest a toxin or induce the control mechanism are unlikely to reduce the transmission of rapidly acquired and/or transmitted viruses. The most effective pest resistance systems and virus/vector/crop combinations for reduction of virus transmission are likely to involve viruses that require relatively long feeding periods for virus acquisition and transmission, and host plant resistance that is very rapid acting, perhaps constitutive, and is very effective at preventing or delaying feeding by vectors. In some such cases, resistance to insect feeding may be effective as a component of an integrated pest management strategy for reducing virus infection in the field.

Technical Abstract: Control of pests and diseases is a major challenge to agricultural production. As insect resistant crops are developed, the question arises as to whether effective insect resistance could be a component in an integrated strategy for control of insect transmitted viruses. The viability of this option depends on the virus, vector, and host plant targeted, the interactions of these organisms, the type of pest resistance available, and how the resistance impacts these interactions. Pest resistance mechanisms that require the pest to feed I order to ingest a toxin or induce the control mechanism are unlikely to reduce the transmission of rapidly acquired and/or transmitted viruses. The most effective pest resistance systems and virus/vector/crop combinations for reduction of virus transmission are likely to involve viruses that require relatively long feeding periods for virus acquisition and transmission, and host plant resistance that is very rapid acting, perhaps constitutive, and is very effective at preventing or delaying feeding by vectors. In some such cases, resistance to insect feeding may be effective as a component of an integrated pest management strategy for reducing virus infection in the field.

   
 
 
Last Modified: 06/18/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House