Two whitefly species, Bemisia afer (Priesner & Hosny) and B. tabaci (Gennadius) were used in transmission experiments with Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) (Ipomovirus; Potyviridae). Adults of whiteflies were given access to CBSV by containing them in clip cages on CBSV-infected cassava plants. Whiteflies were then transferred, together or separately, to CBSD-susceptible cassava plants of var. ÔAlbertÕ in a controlled environment. In glasshouse experiments, whiteflies were caged with CBSV-infected and virusfree cassava plants. Transmission of CBSV was sporadic and occurred in three of seven experiments when inoculated by B. afer and B. tabaci or B. tabaci alone, but not by B. afer alone. However, rate of transmission was low (maximum 22%) even when using high whitefly numbers of up to 120 per target plant. Successful transmission was confirmed by the detection of CBSV by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Spread of cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) in the field in Tanzania coincided with increases in whitefly numbers; further supporting the evidence that B. tabaci is a vector of CBSV. The results of this study establish for the first time that B. tabaci is the vector of CBSV, similar to other ipomoviruses.www.blackwell-synergy.com
The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), is generally considered to have originated from the Indian subcontinent, although little information has so far been collected on the molecular diversity of populations present in this region. The genetic diversity of B. tabaci populations from Karnataka State, south India was analysed using the random amplified polymorphic DNA‐polymerase chain reaction (RAPD‐PCR) technique and partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) gene sequences (689 bases) of 22 selected samples. A total of 108 whitefly samples analysed by RAPD‐PCR produced 89 polymorphic bands, and cluster analyses grouped them according to their geographic origin into ‘north’ and ‘south’ Karnataka. Phylogenetic analysis of mtCOI gene sequences with reference B. tabaci sequences from other Asian countries divided them into three genotypic clusters. Each cluster was supported with high bootstrap values (82–100%) and the individuals belonging to each cluster shared high nucleotide identities (up to 100%). This indicated at least three distinct genotypes, apparently indigenous to India, which are also present in China, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Thailand. These coexist with the B biotype, which was first reported in India in 1999, and has since spread rapidly to other states in south India. The B biotype was more common than the indigenous B. tabaci, in locations where it had been present for more than 2 years. This is reminiscent of the situation in the Americas during the early 1990s, where the B biotype replaced existing biotypes and caused unprecedented losses to agriculture.
Pumpkin yellow vein mosaic disease (PYVMD) causes significant damage to pumpkin production throughout India. A begomovirus causing PYVMD in South India was characterized recently but the nature of virus causing the disease in North India was not known. Samples of PYVMD were obtained from North India and two putative begomoviruses were PCR‐amplified and sequenced. Comparison of complete DNA‐A sequences indicated that PYVMD in North and South India were caused by two distinct begomoviruses and shared only approximately 88% DNA‐A nucleotide identity. The South Indian isolate was most closely related to Squash leaf curl China virus between 91 and 96% identities, and the two North Indian isolates to Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus between 94 and 96% identities. The South Indian isolate was previously shown to be transmitted by the indigenous biotype of Bemisia tabaci, however, the situation has since changed with the introduction of the B‐biotype to South India in 1999. Comparative transmission experiments between the indigenous biotype v/s the introduced B‐biotype for the time required for virus acquisition (30 min v/s 15 min), inoculation (15 min v/s 10 min) and incubation (30 min v/s 4 h) have indicated that the B‐biotype transmits the virus quickly and more efficiently than the indigenous biotype. An epidemic of PYVMD was recorded for the first time in South India in 2004 with disease incidences of up to 100% and significant yield losses. This may be due to a combination of several factors including the large numbers of B‐biotype populations, the ability of the B‐biotype to transmit the virus efficiently and the cultivation of susceptible varieties. These possibilities and the threat to pumpkin cultivation associated with the spread of the B‐biotype in India are discussed.
Tomato is an important cash crop for resource-poor farmers and accounts for 20% of the 2 million t of vegetables grown annually in Bangladesh. Tomato cultivation is affected by Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV), which can cause as much as 100% yield loss. Plants exhibiting typical ToLCV disease symptoms of yellowing, severe leaf curling, and stunting were collected at Jessore, Bangladesh during September 2003. The putative virus was transmitted from tomato to tomato by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. In two separate experiments, 100% transmission was achieved by using 10 viruliferous B. tabaci adults for each of the 20 test plants that was confirmed by comparing the symptoms on test and virus source plants. Total DNAs were extracted from the symptomatic leaves, and the putative viral genomes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction by using the Deng A and B primers (1). Sequences generated from these primers were used to design virus-specific primers that were used to obtain complete viral sequences. Full-length DNA-A (2,740 nt; GenBank Accession No. AJ875157) and DNA-B (2,688 nt; GenBank Accession No. AJ875158) sequences of a bipartite Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus from Jessore (ToLCNDV-[Jes]) were obtained, which were most similar to the corresponding sequences of ToLCNDV-(Lucknow) (GenBank Accession No. Y16421) at 95.7% and Tomato leaf curl Gujarat virus-(Varanasi) (Gen-Bank Accession No. AY190291) at 90.6% nt identities, respectively. DNA-A sequences had only 73.2% nt identity with the previously reported monopartite Tomato leaf curl Bangladesh virus (GenBank Accession No. AF188481) (2), confirming the occurrence of mono- and bipartite bego-moviruses in Bangladesh. The virus diversity poses a challenge for ToLCVD management in Bangladesh. References: (1) D. Deng et al. Ann. Appl. Biol. 125:327, 1994. (2) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001.
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