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10:22
Transmitting Plant Viruses Using Whiteflies
Published on: November 8, 2013
Plant viruses alter insect behavior to enhance their spread
Laura L Ingwell1, Sanford D Eigenbrode, Nilsa A Bosque-Pérez
1Department of Plant, Soil, and Entomological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-2339, USA.
Scientific Reports
|August 17, 2012
Summary
Plant viruses can alter insect vector behavior. Infected aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi) avoid infected plants, promoting virus spread and disease management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Plant pathology
- Insect behavior
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Pathogens manipulate host or vector behavior to enhance transmission.
- In plants, behavioral manipulation primarily affects mobile vectors.
- Vector host selection is influenced by plant infection status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide the first evidence of plant virus acquisition altering insect vector host selection behavior.
- To investigate how Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) affects the host preference of its vector, Rhopalosiphum padi.
- To propose a hypothesis explaining the evolution of pathogen strategies for spread.
Main Methods:
- In vitro feeding of Rhopalosiphum padi aphids with Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV).
- Assessing host plant selection behavior of infective and noninfective aphids.
- Comparing preferences for infected versus noninfected wheat plants.
Main Results:
- Noninfective aphids preferred BYDV-infected plants.
- BYDV-infective aphids preferred noninfected plants.
- This behavioral shift facilitates both virus acquisition and transmission.
Conclusions:
- Plant viruses can directly manipulate insect vector behavior to optimize their own spread.
- The "Vector Manipulation Hypothesis" explains pathogen evolution for enhanced transmission.
- Findings have significant implications for plant disease and vector management strategies.
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