Interactions involving Begomovirus, Solanaceae and different cryptic species of Bemisia tabaci

• Grant number: 19/18639-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Jorge Alberto Marques Rezende
• Grantee: Angélica Maria Nogueira
• Host Institution: Administração Geral. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/18274-3 - Begomovirus and crinivirus in solanasceous: regional molecular epidemiology and sustainable integrated management alternatives, AP.TEM

Abstract

The Solanaceae family is one of the most important in agriculture and includes cultivated species such as tomato, sweet pepper, eggplant, which can be affected by the Begomovirus tomato severe rugose virus (ToSRV). ToSRV is transmitted by Bemisia tabaci which consists of a complex of cryptic species of which Middle East-Asia Minor 1, MEAM1 (also known as biotype B) and Mediterranean, MED, also called Q biotype, are highly invasive. The MED species was reported in the State of São Paulo in 2017. Recently, greenhouses with high infestation of this species were observed in SP state, a very worrying situation. Previous results from our group have shown that MED is an excellent vector for ToSRV, so it is intended to understand the role of this species in the epidemiology of ToSRV in solanaceae. The main objectives of the project include the production of infectious clones of ToSRV (tomato isolate) and evaluation of transmission efficiency by Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 and MED species. In addition, sweet pepper greenhouses will be monitored to verify the occurrence of B. tabaci species and associated viruses, to verify whether epidemiology of whitefly-transmitted viruses is being altered in solanaceae. (AU)