Transmission of Viruses Through Fungi

Abstract

Although majority of plant viruses are transmitted by insects with sucking mouth parts, some viruses are transmitted by insects with biting mouth parts. Beetles (Fam: Chrysomelidae) have the biting type of mouth parts and lack salivary glands. Plant viruses in the genera, Tymovirus, Comovirus, Bromovirus and Sobemovirus are transmitted by beetles. More than 74 species of beetle are known to transmit viruses which infect economically important vegetable and grain crops. Beetles transmit approximately 11% of the insect-borne viruses.