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Passiflora virus Y was detected naturally infecting soybean (Glycine max) for the first time in Brazil. Here, we report the nearly complete genome sequence and molecular and biological properties of the PaVY-Br isolate. The nearly complete genome sequence is 9679 nt long and shares 84.4% nt sequence identity with a previously reported PaVY isolate from Passiflora sp. PaVY-Br induced chlorotic spots and systemic mosaic on soybean and chlorotic local lesions on yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) and sesame (Sesamum indicum). The virus was successfully transmitted by Myzus persicae, indicating that this aphid vector can contribute to the spread of PaYV from passion fruit to soybean plants. Additional epidemiological research is in progress to investigate the distribution of PaVY in soybean production areas in Brazil., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.) more...

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is one of the most important agricultural pests and virus vectors worldwide. Bemisia tabaci is considered a complex of cryptic species with at least 44 species. Among them, the species Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1, formerly B biotype) and Mediterranean (MED, formerly Q biotype) are the most important, and they have attained global status. In Brazil, MEAM1 was first reported in the 1990s and is currently the predominant species in the country, meanwhile, MED was recently reported in the South and Southeast regions and was found to be mainly associated with ornamental plants. Currently, an increasing problem in the management of whitefly infestations in greenhouses associated with bell pepper was observed in São Paulo State, Brazil. The whiteflies were collected and identified based on a microsatellite locus (primer pair BEM23F and BEM23R) and the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and sequencing. We observed that MED was the predominant species collected on bell pepper, but it was also found on tomato, cucumber, eggplant, and weeds grown in greenhouses. In open field, we found MED on tomatoes, bell peppers, and eggplants. In addition, MED was identified in Goiás State in association with ornamental plants. The begomovirus Tomato severe rugose virus and the crinivirus Tomato chlorosis virus was detected on bell pepper and tomato, respectively. Only MED specimens were found associated with the virus-infected plants. Moreover, we also investigated the endosymbionts present in the MED whiteflies. The collected populations of B. tabaci MED harbored a diversity of secondary endosymbionts, with Hamiltonella (H) found predominantly in 89 specimens of the 129 tested. These results represent a new concern for Brazilian agriculture, especially for the management of the newly introduced whitefly MED species, which must be implemented to limit the spreading and establishment of this pest in different crops in this country. more...

The Bemisia tabaci is a polyphagous insect and a successful vector of plant viruses. B. tabaci is a species complex and in Brazil native species from the New World (NW) group, as well as the invasive species, Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and Mediterranean (MED) were reported. For better understanding the distribution of the different species four years after the Mediterranean species invasion in Brazil, whiteflies were collected from 237 locations throughout the country between the years of 2013 and 2017, species were identified and the facultative endosymbionts detected. The survey revealed that MEAM1 was the prevalent species found on major crops across Brazil. It is the only species present in North, Northwestern and Central Brazil and was associated with virus-infected plants. MED was found in five States from Southeast to South regions, infesting mainly ornamental plants and was not associated with virus-infected plants. The prevalent endosymbionts identified in MEAM1 were Hamiltonella and Rickettsia; and the mtCOI analysis revealed low genetic diversity for MEAM1. In contrast, several different endosymbionts were identified in MED including Hamiltonella, Rickettsia, Wolbachia and Arsenophonus; and two distinct genetic groups were found based on the mtCOI analysis. Monitoring the distribution of the whiteflies species in Brazil is essential for proper management of this pest. more...

Background: The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a major cosmopolitan pest and comprises a complex of more than 36 cryptic species that cause serious damage to agricultural crops worldwide. In this study, the Mediterranean species of B. tabaci, formerly known as Q biotype, was identified for the first time in Brazil., Results: Adult B. tabaci were collected from different localities and hosts from Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of the country that borders Uruguay and Argentina. Partial sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) gene indicated that B. tabaci MED species appears to be restricted to the province of Barra do Quaraí, infesting Capsicum annuum cultivated in greenhouses and Ipomoea batatas in open fields. The partial mtCOI sequences obtained shared 100% nucleotide identity with reference sequences for the Q biotype reported from Uruguay. The secondary endosymbionts Hamiltonella and Cardinium were detected by PCR in the new identified MED species from Brazil, similarly to the Q biotype from Uruguay., Conclusion: Our results indicate the presence of the MED species in Brazil. The close monitoring of this new identified species in the southern region of Brazil is essential to avoid its geographical expansion to more important agricultural areas in the country., (© 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.) more...

Bemisia tabaci is a complex of at least 36 putative cryptic species. Since the late 1980s, the Middle East-Asia Minor 1 species (MEAM1, formerly known as the B biotype), has emerged in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world and in some areas has displaced the indigenous populations of B. tabaci. Based on analysis of the mtCOI gene, two indigenous species native to America have been reported: New World (NW, formerly the A biotype) and New World 2 (NW2). NW is present at least in Argentina, Brazil, Martinique, Mexico, Texas and Venezuela, and NW2 in Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil. Wild plants (Euphorbia sp. and Ipomoea sp.), as well as important crops such as tomato, bean and cotton, are still hosts for native B. tabaci populations in the Americas. MEAM1 has not completely displaced the native B. tabaci from the Americas., (© 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.) more...

Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are sap-sucking insect pests, and some cause serious damage in agricultural crops by direct feeding and by transmitting plant viruses. Whiteflies maintain close associations with bacterial endosymbionts that can significantly influence their biology. All whitefly species harbor a primary endosymbiont, and a diverse array of secondary endosymbionts. In this study, we surveyed 34 whitefly populations collected from the states of Sao Paulo, Bahia, Minas Gerais and Parana in Brazil, for species identification and for infection with secondary endosymbionts. Sequencing the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I gene revealed the existence of five whitefly species: The sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci B biotype (recently termed Middle East-Asia Minor 1 or MEAM1), the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum, B. tabaci A biotype (recently termed New World 2 or NW2) collected only from Euphorbia, the Acacia whitefly Tetraleurodes acaciae and Bemisia tuberculata both were detected only on cassava. Sequencing rRNA genes showed that Hamiltonella and Rickettsia were highly prevalent in all MEAM1 populations, while Cardinium was close to fixation in only three populations. Surprisingly, some MEAM1 individuals and one NW2 population were infected with Fritschea. Arsenopnohus was the only endosymbiont detected in T. vaporariorum. In T. acaciae and B. tuberculata populations collected from cassava, Wolbachia was fixed in B. tuberculata and was highly prevalent in T. acaciae. Interestingly, while B. tuberculata was additionally infected with Arsenophonus, T. acaciae was infected with Cardinium and Fritschea. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis on representative individuals showed that Hamiltonella, Arsenopnohus and Fritschea were localized inside the bacteriome, Cardinium and Wolbachia exhibited dual localization patterns inside and outside the bacteriome, and Rickettsia showed strict localization outside the bacteriome. This study is the first survey of whitely populations collected in Brazil, and provides further insights into the complexity of infection with secondary endosymionts in whiteflies. more...

The transmission of Passion fruit woodiness virus (PWV) by Aphis gossypii (Glover) was evaluated. In two independent experiments, A. gossypii transmitted PWV to passion fruit plants at the rates of 75% and 100%, when eight and twelve viruliferous aphids were deposited by plant, respectively. At the end of the tests, nymphs of A. gossypii were observed in some of the passion fruit plants, suggesting that the aphid species was colonizing the plants. This seems to be the first report of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa (Deneger) colonization by a species of aphid. more...

Cucurbits species grown in 38 of 40 agricultural regions in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, were surveyed for the relative incidence of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Papaya ringspot virus-type W (PRSV-W), Watermelon mosaic virus-2 (WMV-2), Zucchini lethal chlorosis virus(ZLCV), and Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) during May 1997 and June 1999. Samples from 621 plants, representing eight cultivated species, six wild species, and one commercial hybrid (Cucurbita moschata × C. maxima), were analyzed by plate trapped antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PTA-ELISA). PRSV-W and ZYMV were the most frequently found viruses, accounting for 49.1 and 24.8%, respectively, of 605 samples tested. ZLCV, CMV, and WMV-2 were detected in 7.8, 6.0, and 4.5% of 612, 497, and 423 samples tested, respectively. Double infection was found in 97 samples, and triple infection was found in 10 samples. Quadruple infection was detected in one C. pepo sample. Plants that were symptomatic but negative by PTA-ELISA might be due to abiotic agents, infection by virus for which antiserum was not available, such as Squash mosaic virus, or infection with an as yet uncharacterized virus. more...

Cayaponia tibiricae Cogn. (CT) is a wild Cucurbitaceae species found in secondary forests in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The species has indefinite growth and bears oblong dark green fruits, 15 to 20 mm long (1,2). CT plants showing yellow mosaic symptoms were found in Atibaia County. Extracts from symptomatic plants were rub inoculated to zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) and Chenopodium amaranticolor Coste & Reyn. Zucchini squash plants developed severe yellow mosaic with intense leaf malformation, while C. amaranticolor showed necrotic local lesions. Extracts from naturally infected CT, zucchini squash, and C. amaranticolor were tested by plate trapped antigen-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PTA-ELISA) with antisera against papaya ringspot virus type W (PRSV-W), zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), zucchini lethal chlorosis virus (ZLCV), watermelon mosaic virus 2 (WMV-2), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). All samples were positive in PTA-ELISA only with ZYMV antiserum. Also, in Western blot (immunoblot) assay, ZYMV antiserum labeled a protein of approximately 36 kDa. Electron microscopic examination of ultrathin sections from infected CT tissue revealed the presence of pinwheel inclusions typical of potyvirus (type 1) infection in the cytoplasm of the cell. CT seedlings were susceptible to mechanical inoculation with the ZYMV isolated from this species. This is the first report of CT as a natural host for ZYMV in Brazil. References: (1) A. Cogniaux. Flora Brasiliensis 6:1, 1878. (2) M. Pio Corrêa. 1926. Diccionário das plantas úteis do Brasil e das exóticas cultivadas. Vol 1. Ministério da Agricultura, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. more...