Can Winged Aphid Abundance Be a Predictor of Cucurbit Aphid-Borne Yellows Virus Epidemics in Melon Crop?

Abstract

Aphid-borne viruses are frequent yield-limiting pathogens in open field vegetable crops. In the absence of curative methods, virus control relies exclusively on measures limiting virus introduction and spread. The efficiency of control measures may greatly benefit from an accurate knowledge of epidemic drivers, in particular those linked with aphid vectors. Field experiments were conducted in southeastern France between 2010 and 2019 to investigate the relationship between the epidemics of cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) and aphid vector abundance. Winged aphids visiting melon crops were sampled daily to assess the abundance of CABYV vectors (Aphis gossypii, Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Myzus persicae) and CABYV was monitored weekly by DAS-ELISA. Epidemic temporal progress curves were successfully described by logistic models. A systematic search for correlations was undertaken between virus variables including parameters µ (inflection point of the logistic curve) and γ (maximum incidence) and aphid variables computed by aggregating abundances on periods relative either to the planting date, or to the epidemic peak. The abundance of A. gossypii during the first two weeks after planting was found to be a good predictor of CABYV dynamics, suggesting that an early control of this aphid species could mitigate the onset and progress of CABYV epidemics in melon crops.

Aphid‐borne viruses infecting cultivated watermelon and squash in Spain: Characterization of a variant of cucurbit aphid‐borne yellows virus (CABYV)

“…On the other hand, although the impact of aphid-vector performance on the ecology and evolution of CABYV and WMV in mixed infections is still unexplored, it is worth mentioning that mixed-infection melon plants, infected with WMV and cucurbit yellow stunting disorder crinivirus (CYSDV), may prompt ecological advantages that allow for the coexistence of both viruses in the field (Domingo-Calap et al, 2020). Thus, it is likely that this combination of CABYV and WMV may be influencing physiological and chemical plant changes, with an effect on the vector behaviour that supports the occurrence and distribution of these aphid-borne virus diseases in cucurbit crops (Carmo-Sousa et al, 2016;Mauck, 2016;Schoeny et al, 2020).…”

Introduction to Special Issue of Plant Virus Emergence

“…Insects are significant drivers of virus emergence, as featured in submissions by Pinheiro-Lima et al, “ Transmission of the Bean-Associated Cytorhabdovirus by the Whitefly Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 ” [ 10 ], and Schoeny, et al, “ Can Winged Aphid Abundance Be a Predictor of Cucurbit Aphid-Borne Yellows Virus Epidemics in Melon Crop? ” [ 11 ]. These studies confirm that we must avoid dogmatic perspectives on plant virus transmission, as the first demonstration of a whitefly-transmitted rhabdovirus.…”