Assessing the diversity of whiteflies infesting cassava in Brazil

Author(s):Show less -

Xavier, Cesar A. D. ^[1] ; Nogueira, Angelica Maria ^[1] ; Bello, Vinicius Henrique ^[2] ; Maranho Watanabe, Luis Fernando ^[2] ; Carneiro Barbosa, Tarsiane Mara ^[1] ; Alves Junior, Miguel ^[3] ; Barbosa, Leonardo ^[4] ; Beserra-Junior, Jose E. A. ^[5] ; Boari, Alessandra ^[6] ; Calegario, Renata ^[7] ; Gorayeb, Eduardo Silva ^[8] ; Honorato Junior, Jaime ^[9] ; Koch, Gabriel ^[7] ; de Andrade Lima, Gaus Silvestre ^[10] ; Lopes, Cristian ^[4] ; de Mello, Raquel Neves ^[11] ; Pantoja, Kessia ^[6] ; Silva, Fabio Nascimento ^[8] ; Sobrinho, Roberto Ramos ^[10] ; Santana, Enilton Nascimento ^[12] ; Pereira da Silva, Jose Wilson ^[13] ; Krause-Sakate, Renate ^[2] ; Zerbini, Francisco M. ^[1]

Affiliation:Show less -

^[1] Univ Fed Vicosa, Dep Fitopatol BIOAGRO, Vicosa, MG - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Protecao Vegetal, Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Para, Fac Engn Agron, Altamira, PA - Brazil

^[4] Inst Fed Sudeste Minas Gerais, Rio Pomba, MG - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Piaui, Dep Fitotecnia, Teresina, PI - Brazil

^[6] Embrapa Amazonia Oriental, Belem, Para - Brazil

^[7] Univ Fed Parana, Dept Fitotecnia & Fitossanidade, Curitiba, Parana - Brazil

^[8] Univ Estado Santa Catarina, Ctr Ciencias Agrovet, Lages, SC - Brazil

^[9] Univ Fed Oeste Bahia, Ctr Multidisciplinar, Campus Barra, Barra, BA - Brazil

^[10] Univ Fed Alagoas, Ctr Ciencias Agr Fitossanidade, Rio Largo, AL - Brazil

^[11] Embrapa Arroz & Feijao, Santo Antonio De Goias, Go - Brazil

^[12] Inst Capixaba Pesquisa & Extensao Rural, Linhares, ES - Brazil

^[13] Univ Fed Para, Fac Engn Florestal, Altamira, PA - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PeerJ; v. 9, JUL 15 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Background. The necessity of a competent vector for transmission is a primary ecological factor driving the host range expansion of plant arthropod-borne viruses, with vectors playing an essential role in disease emergence. Cassava begomoviruses severely constrain cassava production in Africa. Curiously, begomoviruses have never been reported in cassava in South America, the center of origin for this crop. It has been hypothesized that the absence of a competent vector in cassava is the reason why begomoviruses have not emerged in South America. Methods. We performed a country-wide whitefly diversity study in cassava in Brazil. Adults and/or nymphs of whiteflies were collected from sixty-six cassava fields in the main agroecological zones of the country. A total of 1,385 individuals were genotyped based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I sequences. Results. A high species richness was observed, with five previously described species and two putative new ones. The prevalent species were Tetraleurodes acaciae and Bemisia tuberculata, representing over 75% of the analyzed individuals. Although we detected, for the first time, the presence of Bemisia tabaci Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (BtMEAM1) colonizing cassava in Brazil, it was not prevalent. The species composition varied across regions, with fields in the Northeast region showing a higher diversity. These results expand our knowledge of whitefly diversity in cassava and support the hypothesis that begomovirus epidemics have not occurred in cassava in Brazil due to the absence of competent vector populations. However, they indicate an ongoing adaptation process of BtMEAM1 to cassava, increasing the likelihood of begomovirus emergence in this crop. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/21588-7 - Bemisia tabaci in Brazil: competitive displacement between criptic species, susceptibility to insecticides, next generation sequencing analysis, virus influence on insect biology and the presence of the endosymbiont Hamiltonella in virus transmission
• Grantee: Renate Krause Sakate
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants