Virus accumulation and whitefly performance modulate the role of alternate host species as inoculum sources of tomato yellow leaf curl virus

Abstract

Evaluating alternate hosts that facilitate the persistence of a virus in the of viral copies in the plant, and consequently in the insect vector. In addi landscap is key to understanding virus epidemics. In this study, we ex- tion, results showed that all three alternate species could sustain popula plore the role of several plant species (eggplant, pepper, and Palmer am- tions of B. tabaci, while differentially influencing fitness of whiteflies. aranth) as inoculum sources of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and Eggplant was a superior host for whiteflies, whereas whitefly survival as reservoirs for its insect vector, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). All inocu- was compmmised on pepper. Together, we demonstrate that both plant late species were infected with TYLCV, but whiteflies acquired fewer vi- virus and plant-vector interactions could influence the role of an alter ra copies via feeding from pepper and eggplant than from tomato and nate host in TYLCV epidemics, and in our region of study we highlight Palmer amaranth. Further, back-transmission assays to recipient tomato the potential risk of hosts such as Palmer amaranth in the spread of resulted in TYLCV infection only when TYLCV was acquired fmm TYLCV. Palmer amaranth or tomato. Analysis suggested that the role of plant specie. .