The third edition of our series “What’s new in plant science?”, provides an overview on scientific publications gathered during March-May 2024. While not released by VIRTIGATION partners themselves, they still include crucial findings for the stakeholders of our multi-actor network.
Advances in better understanding of begomoviruses
Two recent scientific publications made strides in better grasping the intricacies of begomoviruses. The publications, authored by Indian research teams, could lead to improving the design of existing mitigation strategies against these devastating plant viruses, which include e.g. the ToLCNDV plant virus. The first publication presents a global scenario of begomoviruses, including possible IPM strategies to combat infection by these plant viruses. They published their review in the Vegetable Science journal of the Indian Society of Vegetable Science .
Additionally, another team of Indian scientists discusses emerging evidence of seed transmission of begomoviruses and its implications. This could change the current understanding of insect vectors like whiteflies being the only transmitters of begomoviruses. This Indian group released their research in the Frontiers in Plant Science journal.
New findings help combat the Bemisia tabaci whitefly
In two new publications, US scientists made key advances in combatting the Bemisia tabaci whitefly, the key insect vector transmitting ToLCNDV and TYLCV. The first American research team even obtained a breakthrough on insect resistance in tomato plants. In their paper, the researchers discovered that the Woolly mutation with the Geto2 overcomes the polygenic nature of trichome–based pest resistance in tomato, including against the Bemisia Tabaci. The American team published their findings in the Plant Physiology journal.
In addition to this, another US research team found that found that the TYLCV plant virus manipulates the Bemisia Tabaci whitefly through changes in visual and volatile cues. They published their findings in the PeerJ journal.
Better detection and decontamination of ToBRFV
Finally, two ToBRFV-focused scientific publications by Turkish and German research teams developed new methods and measures to better detect and decontaminate the ToBRFV plant virus. The Turkish scientists have created new real-time PCR methods to simultaneously detect the ToBRFV, PepMV and TSWV (Tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus) plant viruses. The Turkish team published their new PCR methods in the Journal of Phytopathology.
Moreover, a team of German researchers have addressed a crucial weak point in ToBRFV hygiene concepts, which is tire decontamination. They found a new combined cleaning and disinfection measure to decontaminate tire treads. This will help growers to prevent the introduction and spread of ToBRFV in their greenhouses. They released their findings in the Hygiene journal.
