Corn Stunt Disease: An Ideal Insect–Microbial–Plant Pathosystem for Comprehensive Studies of Vector-Borne Plant Diseases of Corn

Abstract

Over 700 plant diseases identified as vector-borne negatively impact plant health and food security globally. The pest control of vector-borne diseases in agricultural settings is in urgent need of more effective tools. Ongoing research in genetics, molecular biology, physiology, and vector behavior has begun to unravel new insights into the transmission of phytopathogens by their insect vectors. However, the intricate mechanisms involved in phytopathogen transmission for certain pathosystems warrant further investigation. In this review, we propose the corn stunt pathosystem (Zea mays–Spiroplasma kunkelii–Dalbulus maidis) as an ideal model for dissecting the molecular determinants and mechanisms underpinning the persistent transmission of a mollicute by its specialist insect vector to an economically important monocotyledonous crop. Corn stunt is the most important disease of corn in the Americas and the Caribbean, where it causes the severe stunting of corn plants and can result in up to 100% yield loss. A comprehensive study of the corn stunt disease system will pave the way for the discovery of novel molecular targets for genetic pest control targeting either the insect vector or the phytopathogen.

Assessing the Functionality of RNA Interference (RNAi) in the Phloem-feeding Maize pestDalbulus maidis

“…To date, there is a shortage of studies addressing the roles of vector derived proteins in D. maidis transmission of maize pathogens. Furthermore, the D. maidis pathosystem is an excellent choice for comprehensive studies of vector-borne plant diseases because it transmits both bacterial and viral pathogens (Jones & Medina, 2020). Our study paves the way for elucidating the roles of gene candidates in vector transmission.…”

Miscelanea 152 (2024): Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), vector of corn stunt disease: Relevant biological aspects, with special reference to knowledge generated in Argentina

“…Los daños indirectos están mayormente caracterizados por la capacidad de trasmisión de patógenos. Jones & Medina (2020) califican a D. maidis como un "super vector" por ser un eficiente trasmisor de patógenos que afectan al maíz. Estos son: dos Mollicutes [el "espiroplasma del maíz o corn stunt spiroplasm (CSS, Spiroplasma kunkelii)", y el "Maize Bushy Stunt Phytoplasms" (MBSP, Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris)], y dos virus [el "Maize Rayado Fino Virus" (MRFV) y el "Maize striate mosaic Virus" (MSMV)] (Oliveira et al 1998;Giménez Pecci et al, 2002Vilanova et al, 2022;Ruiz Posse et al, 2023).…”

“…Estos patógenos, solos o combinados, producen la sintomatología y enfermedad compleja denominada "achaparramiento o raquistismo del maíz". Esta enfermedad es uno de los factores limitantes para la producción del maíz en las Américas (Hruska et al, 1996;Jones & Medina, 2020;Pozebon et al, 2022).…”

Diverse phytoplasmas associated with maize bushy stunt disease in Peru

“…According to the Peruvian Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation, the national production of starchy corn for 2019 was 305,198 tons, (MIDAGRI, 2021). Maize bushy stunt (MBS) is the most important disease that decreases maize production especially in Latin American cultivations, where it can decrease the production and yield of the crop up to 100% (Jones & Medina, 2020). The disease has been reported in the United States, Costa Rica (Harrison et al, 1996), Mexico (Pérez-López et al, 2016), Nicaragua (Hruska et al, 1996), Belize (Henríquez et al, 1999), Colombia (Duduk et al, 2008), and Brazil (Bedendo et al, 1997).…”