Conditional vector preference aids the spread of plant pathogens: results from a model

Area of Science:

• Plant pathology
• Insect ecology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Insect vectors exhibit preferences for feeding or settling on infected or non-infected host plants.
• Recent research indicates these preferences can shift based on whether the vector is inoculative (carrying the pathogen).
• Previous models assumed static vector preferences, limiting understanding of disease dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model plant disease spread incorporating conditional vector preferences.
• To investigate how changes in vector preference, based on inoculative status, affect pathogen dissemination.
• To compare outcomes with previous models assuming constant vector preferences.

Main Methods:

• Development of a basic mathematical model for disease spread.
• Incorporation of vector preferences that vary with inoculative status.
• Analysis of disease spread dynamics under conditional preference scenarios.

Main Results:

• Conditional vector preference can enhance pathogen spread throughout an epidemic.
• This occurs when non-inoculative vectors prefer infected plants and inoculative vectors prefer non-infected plants.
• This contrasts with previous findings where static preferences influenced spread differently based on host abundance.

Conclusions:

• Conditional vector preference significantly influences plant pathogen spread.
• This has broad implications for managing plant diseases in agricultural and natural ecosystems.
• Virus manipulation of vector behavior through conditional preference is a critical factor in disease dynamics.