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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #393543
Research Project: Mitigating High Consequence Domestic, Exotic, and Emerging Diseases of Fruits, Vegetables, and Ornamentals

Location: Subtropical Plant Pathology Research

Title: Differential transcriptional responses in two Old World Bemisia tabaci cryptic species post acquisition of old and new World begomoviruses

Author
item MUGERWA, HABIBU - University Of Georgia
item GAUTAM, SAURABH - University Of Georgia
item CATTO, MICHAEL - University Of Georgia
item DUTTA, BHABESH - University Of Georgia
item BROWN, JUDITH - University Of Arizona
item Adkins, Scott
item SRINIVASAN, RAJAGOPALBABU - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Cells
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/27/2022
Publication Date: 6/29/2022
Citation: Mugerwa, H., Gautam, S., Catto, M.A., Dutta, B., Brown, J., Adkins, S.T., Srinivasan, R. 2022. Differential transcriptional responses in two Old World Bemisia tabaci cryptic species post acquisition of old and new World begomoviruses. Cells. 11:13. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11132060.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11132060

Interpretive Summary: Cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV), sida golden mosaic virus (SiGMV) and tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) are whitefly-transmitted viruses causing economic losses to vegetable crops in Georgia and Florida. The MEAM1 whitefly and the MED whitefly are able to acquire and in some cases transmit these three viruses. This research explored gene expression in both of these whitefly types, comparing those fed on virus-infected plants with those fed on non-infected plants. Several classes of genes were found that had either increased or decreased gene expression, some of which may play a role in virus transmission. This information will be helpful to entomologists, virologists and regulatory scientists.

Technical Abstract: The Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 whitefly and the B. tabaci MED whitefly are important vectors of begomoviruses worldwide. Both whitefly types are reported in Georgia and Florida. Corresponding begomoviruses including cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV), sida golden mosaic virus (SiGMV) and tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) are also found in these states and cause economic losses to vegetable crops like squash, green bean and tomato. The mechanism of whitefly transmission of these viruses remains incompletely understood. Assessments of the relative gene expression in adult whiteflies of each type fed on virus-infected vs. non-infected plants were made to further elucidate the transmission process. Several classes of genes were identified as up-regulated or down-regulated in response to TYLCV, CuLCrV or SiGMV. Some of these differentially expressed genes may play a role in virus transmission and provide important new information for entomologists, virologists and regulatory scientists.