Epidemiology of criniviruses, an emerging problem in world agriculture

Authors: TZANETAKIS, I - University Of Arkansas; Martin, Robert; Wintermantel, William - Bill

Submitted to: Frontiers in Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/26/2013
Publication Date: 5/16/2013
Publication URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3656352/
Citation: Tzanetakis, I.E., Martin, R.R., Wintermantel, W.M. 2013. Epidemiology of criniviruses, an emerging problem in world agriculture. Frontiers in Virology. 4:119.

Interpretive Summary: A newly emerging group of plant viruses, the Criniviruses, that are whitefly transmitted have become increasingly important in a range of fruit and vegetable crops over the past 15 years. These viruses have become major threats to production with the establishment and naturalization of the their whitefly vectors in temperate climates around the world. In crops such as lettuce, melons, and tomatoes, these viruses cause significant damage in single infections. In other crops, such as blackberry, strawberry, and sweet potatoes, these viruses are important components of virus complexes that cause significant crop loss or crop failures. This article presents new information on the epidemiology of this important group of viruses and current efforts underway to manage the viruses in cropping systems. Management efforts are focused on limiting movement of these viruses on vegetatively propagated crops through certification programs, chemical control to reduce vector populations, and breeding for resistance to the vectors and viruses.

Technical Abstract: The genus Crinivirus includes the whitefly-transmitted members of the family Closteroviridae. Whitefly-transmitted viruses have emerged as a major problem for world agriculture and are responsible for diseases that lead to losses measured in the billions of dollars annually. Criniviruses have emerged as a major agricultural threat at the end of the twentieth century with the establishment and naturalization of their whitefly vectors, members of the genera Trialeurodes and Bemisia in temperate climate around the globe. Several criniviruses cause significant diseases in single infections whereas other remain asymptomatic but synergize with other viruses to cause disease. Given the recent identification and characterization of the majority of criniviruses in the last twenty years, this article provides a detailed review on the epidemiology of this important group of viruses.