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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Ithaca, New York » Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture & Health » Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #365105
Research Project: Management and Biology of Arthropod Pests and Arthropod-borne Plant Pathogens

Location: Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research

Title: Looking through the lens of ‘omics technologies: Insights into the transmission of insect vector-borne plant viruses

Author
item WILSON, JENNIFER - Cornell University
item Deblasio, Stacy
item ALEXANDER, MARIKO - Cornell University
item Heck, Michelle

Submitted to: Insect Molecular Biology
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/7/2018
Publication Date: 6/6/2019
Citation: Wilson, J.R., Deblasio, S.L., Alexander, M.M., Heck, M.L. 2019. Looking through the lens of ‘omics technologies: Insights into the transmission of insect vector-borne plant viruses. Insect Molecular Biology. 6(34):113-144. https://doi.org/10.21775/cimb.034.113.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21775/cimb.034.113

Interpretive Summary: Many serious diseases of plants are caused by viruses that are spread by tiny sap-sucking insects. In this book chapter, we analyze how different groups of viruses are spread by insects, discussing at least one virus-vector pair for every important group of viruses. We delve into the molecules in the virus and insect that must interact for virus spread to occur within a crop, with a special emphasis on how new molecular technologies, such as genomics and proteomics, can help advance understanding of these processes. Finally, we discuss how this knowledge can be applied to devise new ways to control these viral diseases in agricultural production systems.

Technical Abstract: Insects in the orders Hemiptera and Thysanoptera transmit plant viruses and other plant pathogens associated with the most serious diseases of plants. Plant viruses transmitted by these insects target similar tissues, genes, and proteins within the insect to facilitate plant-to-plant transmission with some degree of specificity at the molecular level. ‘Omics experiments are becoming increasingly important and practical for vector biologists to use towards better understanding the molecular mechanisms and biochemistry underlying transmission of these insect-borne diseases. These discoveries are being used to develop novel means to obstruct virus transmission into and between plants. In this chapter, we summarize ‘omics technologies commonly applied in vector biology and important discoveries that have been made using these methods, including virus and insect proteins involved in transmission, as well as the tri-trophic interactions involved in host and vector manipulation. Finally, we critically examine the limitations and new horizons in this area of research, including the role of endosymbionts and insect viruses in virus-vector interactions, and the development of novel control strategies.