Soybean thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) harbor highly diverse populations of arthropod, fungal and plant viruses

Authors: THEKKE-VEETIL, THANUJA - University Of Illinois; Lagos-Kutz, Doris; McCoppin, Nancy; Hartman, Glen; JU, HYE-KYOUNG - Chungnam National University; LIM, HYOUN-SUB - Chungnam National University; Domier, Leslie

Submitted to: Viruses
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/29/2020
Publication Date: 12/1/2020
Citation: Thekke-Veetil, T., Lagos-Kutz, D.M., McCoppin, N.K., Hartman, G.L., Ju, H., Lim, H., Domier, L.L. 2020. Soybean thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) harbor highly diverse populations of arthropod, fungal and plant viruses. Viruses. 12(12). Article 1376. https://doi.org/10.3390/v12121376.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/v12121376

Interpretive Summary: Soybean thrips are one of the most efficient vectors of soybean vein necrosis virus (SVNV), which can cause severe necrotic symptoms in sensitive soybean plants. To determine which other viruses are associated with soybean thrips, RNAs present in soybean thrips collected by the Midwest Suction Trap Network during 2018 were analyzed. While most RNAs in the soybean thrips were produced from soybean thrips nuclear genes, about 1% of the RNAs were derived from viruses associated with the thrips. Of the 181 virus-like RNAs identified, 156 had not been described previously and likely represented new insect-infecting viruses, but RNAs similar to plant and fungal-infecting virus taxa also were identified. Eight insect-infecting virus-like RNAs were originally reported from Hubei province in China. Identification of virus sequences previously reported from China indicated the potential movement of insect-infecting viruses through insects across continents and geographical barriers. The presence of diverse populations of plant viruses within soybean thrips suggests they feed on and acquire viruses from multiple host plant species. Assessment of the virome of soybean thrips provides us, for the first time, with information on the diversity of viruses present in thrips. This information will be of interest to researchers studying the diversity and distribution of insect and plant viruses in insects that feed on crop plants.

Technical Abstract: Soybean thrips (Neohydatothrips variabilis) are one of the most efficient vectors of soybean vein necrosis orthotospovirus (SVNV), which can cause severe necrotic symptoms in sensitive soybean plants. To determine which other viruses are associated with soybean thrips, the metatranscriptome of soybean thrips collected by the Midwest Suction Trap Network during 2018 was analyzed. Analysis of contigs assembled from the metatranscriptome data revealed a remarkable diversity of virus-like sequences. Of the 181 virus-like sequences identified, 156 were novel and associated primarily with taxa of arthropod-infecting viruses, but sequences similar to plant and fungal-infecting virus taxa also were identified. The novel viruses were predicted to have positive-sense RNA, negative-sense RNA, double-stranded RNA and single-stranded DNA genomes. The assembled sequences included 99 contigs that represented at least 95% coverage of a virus genome or genome segment. Sequences represented 12 previously described arthropod viruses, including eight viruses reported from Hubei province in China, and six previously described and seven novel plant viruses. Identification of virus sequences previously reported from China indicated the potential movement of insect-infecting viruses through insects across continents and geographical barriers. The presence of diverse populations of plant viruses within soybean thrips suggests they feed on and acquire viruses from multiple host plant species that could be transmitted to soybean. Assessment of the virome of soybean thrips provides us, for the first time, with information on the diversity of viruses present in thrips.