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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #163796
Title: THE BEMISIA TABACI FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS PROJECT

Author
item McKenzie, Cindy
item Shatters, Robert
item BROWN, J - UNIV OF ARIZONA
item CZOSNEK, H - HEBREW UNIV OF JERUSALEM

Submitted to: Entomology International Congress
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2004
Publication Date: 8/15/2004
Citation: Shatters, R.G., Mckenzie, C.L., Brown, J.K., Czosnek, H. 2004. The bemisia tabaci functional genomics project. Entomology International Congress.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We propose the first genomics project on a hemipteran insect pest to agriculture, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. This insect transmits many viruses to a variety of economically important crops in the USA, Israel, and worldwide. The B type (synonym B. argentifolii) is resident to Israel, and has invaded the Southern USA, reaching epidemic proportions. Despite its extreme economic importance, there is little molecular genetics information on B. tabaci. This project proposes the development and public presentation of a B. tabaci expressed sequence tag (EST) library and associated cDNA high-density arrays, and to use the arrays to analyze how begomoviruses influence the whitefly transcript profile. The cDNA libraries will be constructed by pooling populations of B biotype selected before and after they acquire mono partite (Tomato yellow leaf curl virus) and bipartite begomoviruses (Tomato mottle virus). Genes whose transcript abundance changes in response to acquisition and circulative movement of begomoviruses through the whitefly will be identified using array-based hybridizations. This project combines expertise in B. tabaci biology, plant-virus-vector relationship, genomics and bioinformatics, and is presented with the knowledge that understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the biology of B. tabaci is a prerequisite for the creation of new strategies to curb the disastrous effects of this insect on many crops worldwide. Preliminary EST results will be presented from the various whitefly libraries.