Andrea G. Caruso, Simona Tortorici, Salvatore Davino, Sofia Bertacca, Arianna Ragona, Gabriella Lo Verde, Antonio Biondi, Emanuela Noris, Roberto Rizzo, Stefano Panno
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) currently represents one of the most significant threats to tomato crop worldwide. Its transmission occurs mainly through contact between plants and infected surfaces, and only one case of mechanical transmission by arthropods has been reported. Here, we aim to assess the role of an invasive tomato pest, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), in ToBRFV transmission. Laboratory tests demonstrated the presence of the ToBRFV in adult moths obtained from larvae developed on ToBRFV-infected plants. Infected adults of T. absoluta were able to infect healthy tomato plants. In order to evaluate whether the occurrence of ToBRFV on T. absoluta adults was internal or external to the pupae, as results of larvae feeding on infected plants, pupae obtained from larvae fed on infected plants were externally disinfected and then analyzed for the presence of ToBRFV by RT-qPCR. Adults obtained from disinfected and not-disinfected pupae were also analyzed. Both adults and pupae were positive for the virus, suggesting its presence in the inner surface of the pupal exuvia. Electron microscopy, western blot analyses and hemolymph bioassay showed the absence of ToBRFV virions and viral coat protein in the hemolymph collected from disinfected pupae, demonstrating that the ToBRFV is not circulative in the progeny of T. absoluta adults obtained from larvae fed in infected plants, but probably adults got contaminated during their emergence, due to virus presence in the inner surface of pupal exuvia. This study demonstrates for the first time that T. absoluta can carry an infectious primary inoculum of ToBRFV, highlighting a potential epidemiological role of T. absoluta in spreading ToBRFV in the field.
期刊介绍:
Its scope covers all aspects of basic and applied research dealing with insects and more broadly with arthropods inhabiting wild, agricultural and/or urban habitats. The journal also considers research integrating various disciplines and issues within the broad field of entomology and ecology.
Entomologia Generalis publishes high quality research articles on advances in knowledge on the ecology and biology of arthropods, as well as on their importance for key ecosystems services, e.g. as biological control and pollination. The journal devotes special attention to contributions providing significant advances (i) on the fundamental knowledge and on sustainable control strategies of arthropod pests (including of stored products) and vectors of diseases, (ii) on the biology and ecology of beneficial arthropods, (iii) on the spread and impact of invasive pests, and (iv) on potential side effects of pest management methods.
Entomologia Generalis welcomes review articles on significant developments in the field of entomology. These are usually invited by the editorial board, but proposals may be sent to the Editor-in-Chief for preliminary assessment by the editorial board before formal submission to the journal. The journal also considers comments on papers published in Entomologia Generalis, as well as short notes on topics that are of broader interest.