Biological and behavioral responses of Bemisia tabaci biotype B in tomato infected plants with Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV)

• Grant number: 12/24974-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Joao Roberto Spotti Lopes
• Grantee: Nathalie Kristine Prado Maluta
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/26125-7 - Correlations between whitefly feeding behavior and transmission of Tomato chlorosis virus (Closteroviridae: Crinivirus), BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Several phytovirus are able to influence the behavior and biological development of insect vectors, especially aphids, in order to favor its spread among host plants, but little is known about the effects of viral infections on whiteflies. Considering the importance of Bemisia tabaci as a pest and vector of phytovirus, this project will investigate if its eating behavior and/or performance are influenced by biological infection of crinivirus Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) on the host plant (indirect effect) or own insect vector (direct effect). First, the preference will be evaluated for landing and behavior arrestant of B. tabaci biotype B in tomato plants healthy and infected with ToCV. Then, the feeding behavior of healthy adults of B. tabaci in tomato plants healthy and infected with ToCV will be compared by the 'Electrical Penetration Graph' (EPG) technique, which allows the monitoring of the activities by the insect during stylet penetration. Finally, we will evaluate the direct and indirect effects on biological parameters of ToCV on B. tabaci biotype B such as duration and viability of immature stages, sex ratio, fecundity, fertility and longevity of adults. Such studies are extremely important for understanding virus-vector relationship and the epidemiology of viral infection, because it will indicate whether the ToCV is able to manipulate the biological performance and/or the behavior of its vector as a strategy to optimize its natural spread.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MALUTA, NATHALIE; FERERES, ALBERTO; SPOTTI LOPES, JOAO ROBERTO. Plant-mediated indirect effects of two viruses with different transmission modes on Bemisia tabaci feeding behavior and fitness. JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE, v. 92, n. 2, p. 405-416, MAR 2019. (12/51771-4, 12/24974-1)

PRADO MALUTA, NATHALIE KRISTINE; FERERES, ALBERTO; SPOTTI LOPES, JOAO ROBERTO. Settling preferences of the whitefly vector Bemisia tabaci on infected plants varies with virus family and transmission mode. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, v. 165, n. 2-3, p. 138-147, DEC 2017. (12/51771-4, 12/24974-1)

PRADO MALUTA, NATHALIE KRISTINE; GARZO, ELISA; MORENO, ARANZAZU; NAVAS-CASTILLO, JESUS; FIALLO-OLIVE, ELVIRA; SPOTTI LOPES, JOAO ROBERTO; FERERES, ALBERTO. Stylet penetration activities of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci associated with inoculation of the crinivirus Tomato chlorosis virus. JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY, v. 98, n. 6, p. 1515-1520, JUN 2017. (14/26125-7, 12/51771-4, 12/24974-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MALUTA, Nathalie Kristine Prado. Biological and behavioral responses of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) to tomato plants infected with Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) and Tomato severe rugose virus (ToSRV) and stylets activities associated with inoculation of ToCV. 2017. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC) Piracicaba.