Whitefly transmitted begomovirus infection in plant and host response: a review

Every year rapid spreading of Begomovirus infection in plant causes a great economic loss in many countries of the world. To control the increasing rate of viral infectivity exclusive study on its transmission mechanism is required. This virus is transmitted through whitefly vector. Whitefly moves from one plant to another plant to suck phloem sap and spread virion particles. Transmission capability of virus may depend on the genetic variations within the cryptic species groups of whiteflies. Two distinct categories of begomoviruses viz., bipartite and monopartite were reported based on their different genome organization. According to ICTV, Old world begomoviruses may be monopartite or bipartite (distributed in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania) whereas new world begomoviruses consist of mostly bipartite species (mainly found in America). Virion particles invade the preferable host plant (e.g. tomato, cotton etc.) and modify the intracellular ambience of plant according to their need to replicate and survive. Replication of virus mainly occurs through rolling circle replication and/or recombination driven replication methods. The most crucial factor for the establishment of infection, is the interaction among host, vector and pathogen. Several endosymbiotic organisms living within the vector also play significant role here. To stave off viral infection, host plant responds through several defensive activities like transcriptional gene silencing, post-transcriptional gene silencing, ubiquitination, autophagy, hormonal regulation, metabolic alteration etc. However, virus also counteracts remarkably through the manipulation of different pathways of cellular events of host plant. Thinking in the direction of the development of begomovirus resistance within host plants is necessary. Analytical study in different directions regarding the interaction between virus and plant and utilization of respective advanced molecular biological techniques may give cues to a new avenue.