Comparative study of Brevipalpus yothersi (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) vector activity: coffee ringspot virus (CoRSV) x citrus leprosis virus (CiLV-C)

• Grant number: 18/00515-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2018
• End date: March 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Valdenice Moreira Novelli
• Grantee: Guilherme Fernandes Gonçalves
• Host Institution: Instituto Agronômico (IAC). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The most important current viral disease for citrus fruits is citrus leprosis, transmitted by mites of the genus Brevipalpus spp. Leprosis, characterized by chlorotic and necrotic spots on leaves, branches, and fruits, can directly affect the production and the useful life of the orchards. In advanced stages, the disease can lead to the death of plants, with most sweet orange species being susceptible to Citrus leprosis virus C (CiLV-C). Another disease of economic importance also attributed to these vector mites is the annular coffee stain caused by the Coffee ringspot virus (CoRSV), which causes significant losses to the producers in several coffee regions of Minas Gerais. Likewise, the symptoms are characterized by ring spots on the leaves, on the fruits, and green shoots, depreciating the production and affecting the quality of the beverage. For both diseases, the management consists of the elimination of the vector via spraying of acaricides, leading to losses, either through losses in production, high cost in chemical control and, often, environmental compromise and favoring resistant mite populations. Although they are diseases attributed to the same vectors, they are distinct viruses, with their peculiarities, but which can naturally coexist in environments and potentiate economic losses. Considering the increasing importance of both diseases and dispersion by the same vector, this proposal aims to obtain information about the biology and behavior of the B. yothersi mite against the different interactions - CiLV-C and CoRSV x host. (AU)