Begomovirus-induced gene expression patterns in an invasive Bemisia tabaci species (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

Authors: LAHEY, ZACHARY - Orise Fellow; Simmons, Alvin; Andreason, Sharon

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2023
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: Begomoviruses (Geminiviridae) compose an economically important group of plant viruses transmitted solely by members of the Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) cryptic species complex. Whiteflies within the species complex demonstrate diverse transmission specificities for different begomoviruses. In the United States, one of the most economically significant begomoviruses is tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), which is efficiently transmitted by the invasive, high-consequence B. tabaci MEAM1. The purpose of this study is to determine the gene expression profiles of non-viruliferous and viruliferous invasive B. tabaci MEAM1 after TYLCV acquisition access feeding. Newly emerged (= 5 days) adult whiteflies were fed on healthy or TYLCV infected plants for 12, 36, or 60 hours, after which they were transferred to a TYLCV non-host (collard) for 12 hours. The non-host feeding phase was incorporated to target capture of gene expression changes influenced by virus acquisition and to minimize any host-induced, indirect effects of feeding on infected tissue. High-quality total RNA was extracted from whiteflies using TRIzol and sequenced. Differential expression analyses were performed to determine gene expression patterns associated with TYLCV acquisition. Elucidating the transcriptional response of B. tabaci to virus acquisition could inform the development of novel genomics-assisted whitefly transmitted virus management strategies.