Assessing the Temporal Effects of Squash vein yellowing virus Infection on Settling and Feeding Behavior of Bemisia tabaci (MEAM1) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Issue 3 (14th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shrestha, Deepak; McAuslane, Heather J; Ebert, Timothy A; Cervantes, Felix A; Adkins, Scott T; Smith, Hugh A; Dufault, Nicholas; Webb, Susan E
• Is Part Of: Journal of insect science. Volume 19:Issue 3(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-05-14
• Subjects: electrical penetration graph (EPG) -- indirect effect -- settling -- feeding; Insects -- Periodicals; Entomology -- Periodicals; Arthropoda -- Periodicals; Insects; Arthropods; Biology; Ecology; Entomologie -- Périodiques; Entomology; Insects; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 595.05
• DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iez036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1536-2442

Abstract

Abstract: Insect vector behavior and biology can be affected by pathogen-induced changes in the physiology and morphology of the host plant. Herein, we examined the temporal effects of Squash vein yellowing virus (family Potyviridae, genus Ipomovirus ) infection on the settling, oviposition preference, and feeding behavior of its whitefly vector, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1), formerly known as B . tabaci biotype B. Settling and oviposition behavioral choice assays were conducted on pairs of infected and mock-inoculated watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus (Thunb) Matsum and Nakai) (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae) at 5–6 days post inoculation (DPI) and 10–12 DPI. Electropenetrography, or electrical penetration graph (both abbreviated EPG), was used to assess differences in feeding behaviors of whitefly on mock-inoculated, 5–6 and 10–12 DPI infected watermelon plants. Whiteflies showed no preference in settling or oviposition on the infected and mock-inoculated plants at 5–6 DPI. However, at 10–12 DPI, whiteflies initially settled on infected plants but then preference of settling shifted to mock-inoculated plants after 8 h. Only at 10–12 DPI, females laid significantly more eggs on mock-inoculated plants than infected plants. EPG revealed no differences in whitefly feeding behaviors among mock-inoculated, 5–6 DPI infected and 10–12 DPI infected plants. The results highlighted the need to examine plant disease progression and its effect on vector behavior and performance, which could play a crucial role in Squash vein yellowing virus spread.