Viruliferous and non-viruliferous aphids behave differently to enhance the spread of the virus

Abstract

Plant viruses can modulate insect vector behaviour directly and/or indirectly by altering plant biochemistry. In many instances, such behavioural alterations increase the frequency of encounters between host and vector, leading to enhanced virus dispersal in ecosystems. In the current study using Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae), and Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) as a pathosystem, we evaluated the direct and indirect effects of CMV on M. persicae biology and behavioural responses. Data showed that CMV indirectly modulates the aphid vector by providing fitness benefits to aphids, leading to enhanced aphid reproduction on CMV-infected pepper plants in comparison with non-infected C. annuum plants. Furthermore, CMV can also alter aphid behaviour directly by modulating the behavioural response of viruliferous aphids towards non-infected plants. We demonstrate that CMV directly and indirectly modulates the insect vector thereby enhancing its transmission in agroecosystems.