Population Dynamics of Whiteflies and Associated Viruses in South America: Research Progress and Perspectives

Abstract

By having an extensive territory and suitable climate conditions, South America is one of the most important agricultural regions in the world, providing different kinds of vegetable products to different regions of the world. However, such favorable conditions for plant production also allow the development of several pests, increasing production costs. Among them, whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) stand out for their potential for infesting several crops and for being resistant to insecticides, having high rates of reproduction and dispersal, besides their efficient activity as virus vectors. Currently, the most important species occurring in South America are Bemisia afer, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, and the cryptic species Middle East-Asia Minor 1, Mediterranean, and New World, from Bemisia tabaci complex. In this review, a series of studies performed in South America were compiled in an attempt to unify the advances that have been developed in whitefly management in this continent. At first, a background of the current whitefly distribution in South American countries as well as factors affecting them are shown, followed by a background of the whitefly transmitted viruses in South America, addressing their location and association with whiteflies in each country. Afterwards, a series of management strategies are proposed to be implemented in South American fields, including cultural practices and biological and chemical control, finalizing with a section containing future perspectives and directions for further research.

A Review on Transcriptional Responses of Interactions between Insect Vectors and Plant Viruses

“…The geographical distribution of aphids tends to be predominantly in temperate regions, and aphids are major pests of crops such as cereals including wheat and barley [ 21 , 22 ]. Whiteflies are known to be prevalent in sub-tropical and tropical regions and certain members in the cryptic species complex are pests on a variety of vegetable and row crops such as cotton [ 23 , 24 ]. Leaf and planthoppers are pests of host plants such as potato, rice, and soybean in temperate, sub-tropical, and tropical regions of the world [ 25 , 26 ].…”

Detection of Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean cryptic species on soybean in São Paulo and Paraná States (Brazil) and interaction of cowpea mild mottle virus with whiteflies

“…Since then, an intense increase in soybean areas associated with the abusive use of nonselective insecticides has contributed to the occurrence of B. tabaci on soybean fields (Arnemann et al, 2019). B. tabaci MED was detected in the southernmost regions of Brazil in 2014 and since then, multiple detections of the MED species have been reported in the south, south-east, and mid-west regions of the country associated with ornamental plants and vegetable crops (Bello et al, 2020;Moraes et al, 2017Moraes et al, , 2018Krause-Sakate et al, 2020). MED has been responsible for serious problems worldwide in the last two decades, mainly associated with resistance to insecticides, which caused its rapid invasion and dominance in new ecological niches and countries (Horowitz et al, 2020;Horowitz & Ishaaya, 2014).…”

“…Recently, the current definition based on molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I ( mtCOI ) gene classified this complex with at least 44 species (Kanakala & Ghanim, 2019). Among this cryptic species complex, Middle East‐Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1, formerly known as the B biotype) and Mediterranean (MED, formerly known as the Q biotype) are considered the most invasive species worldwide and responsible for severe damage (Alemandri et al, 2015; Barbosa et al, 2014; Kanakala & Ghanim, 2019; Krause‐Skate et al, 2020).…”

Identification of Begomoviruses from Three Cryptic Species of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Nepal

“…Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a vector of at least 320 plant viruses of the genera Begomovirus, Carlavirus, Crinivirus, Ipomovirus, Polerovirus and Torradovirus [1][2][3][4]. Particularly, B. tabaci is the only vector of Begomovirus, such as the Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), Squash leaf curl China virus (SLCCNV), and African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) [5].…”