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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #396111
Research Project: GxExM Systems Approach to Crop Disease Management

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Vector competency of aphis gossypii and bemisia tabaci to transmit cotton leafroll dwarf virus

Author
item HEILSNIS, BRIANNA - Auburn University
item MCLAUGHLIN, AUTUMN - Auburn University
item CONNER, KASSIE - Auburn University
item KOEBERNICK, JENNY - Auburn University
item JACOBSON, ALANA - Auburn University

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/21/2022
Publication Date: 8/15/2023
Citation: Heilsnis, B., Mclaughlin, A., Conner, K., Koebernick, J., Jacobson, A. 2023. Vector competency of aphis gossypii and bemisia tabaci to transmit cotton leafroll dwarf virus. Journal of Cotton Science. 26(1):23-30.

Interpretive Summary: A new variant of cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV-AL) was discovered in cotton fields that were reported to be infested with aphids and whiteflies in southern Alabama in 2017. The population of whiteflies was abnormally high this year, which lead to confusion by growers and consultants as to which insect was vectoring the virus. Poleroviruses have traditionally been reported to be vectored by aphids, until recently when two new poleroviruses were reported to be transmitted by whiteflies. The objective of this study was to determine if aphids or whiteflies transmit CLRDV to cotton. The results demonstrated that CLRDV-AL was transmissible by winged and wingless cotton aphids, but not by whiteflies.

Technical Abstract: A new variant of cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV) (genus: Polerovirus, family: Solemoviridae) was discovered in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fields that were reported to be infested with aphids and whiteflies in southern Alabama in 2017. Prior to the confirmation of CLRDV, speculation focused on whiteflies as a potential vector of the then-unknown virus. While the only vector reported to transmit CLRDV to cotton is the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Glover), two recombinant poleroviruses have recently been reported to be transmitted by the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.). Due to the emergence of a new CLRDV variant in the US, and the recent studies on recombinant poleroviruses, conflicting messages that whiteflies and/or aphids could be transmitting CLRDV have been relayed to growers and stakeholders in the Cotton Belt. The objective of this study was to determine if A. gossypii or B. tabaci (B Mitotype) transmit CLRDV to cotton. The results demonstrated that the CLRDV-AL variant was transmissible by alate and apterous morphs of A. gossypii, but not by B. tabaci. These findings emphasize the importance of screening insect vectors for the transmission of novel plant virus variants in order to correctly identify the vector(s) and provide growers and stakeholders with appropriate information to make informed management decisions.