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Bidari F, Fathipour Y, Asgari S, Mehrabadi M. Targeting the microRNA pathway core genes, Dicer 1 and Argonaute 1, negatively affects the survival and fecundity of Bemisia tabaci. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 78:4234-4239. [PMID: 35708473 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory non-coding RNAs that are involved in a variety of biological processes such as immunity, cell signaling and development by regulating gene expression. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a polyphagous vector that transmits many plant viruses causing economic damage to crops worldwide. In this study, we characterized and analyzed the expression of the miRNA core genes Argonaute-1 (Ago1) and Dicer-1 (Dcr1) in B. tabaci and explored the effect of their silencing on the insect's fitness. RESULTS Our results showed that Ago1 and Dcr1 are differentially expressed in different tissues and developmental stages of B. tabaci. To determine the function of the miRNA pathway in B. tabaci, we silenced Ago1 and Dcr1 using specific double-stranded RNAs to the genes. RNA interference (RNAi) of Ago1 and Dcr1 decreased the expression level of the core genes and reduced the abundance of Let-7 and miR-184 miRNAs. Silencing of the miRNA pathway core gene also negatively affected the biology of B. tabaci by reducing fertility, fecundity and survival of this insect pest. CONCLUSIONS Together, our results showed that silencing the miRNA pathway core genes reduced the miRNA levels followed by reduced fecundity and survival of B. tabaci, which highlighted the importance of the miRNA pathway in this insect. The miRNA core genes are attractive targets for developing an RNAi-based strategy for targeting this notorious insect pest. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzad Bidari
- Department of Entomology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Sassan Asgari
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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Gebiola M, Le BH, Mauck KE. A reproducible and sensitive method for generating high-quality transcriptomes from single whitefly salivary glands and other low-input tissues. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:1318-1328. [PMID: 35068058 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptomic studies are an important tool for understanding the molecular pathways underlying host plant use by agricultural pests, including vectors of damaging plant pathogens. Thus far, bulk RNA-Seq has been the main approach for non-model insects. This method relies on pooling large numbers of whole organisms or hundreds of individually dissected organs. The latter approach is logistically challenging, may introduce artifacts of handling and storage, and is not compatible with biological replication. Here, we tested an approach to generate transcriptomes of individual salivary glands and other low-input body tissues from whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci MEAM1), which are major vectors of plant viruses. By comparing our outputs to published bulk RNA-Seq datasets for whole whitefly bodies and pools of salivary glands, we demonstrate that this approach recovers similar numbers of transcripts relative to bulk RNA-Seq in a tissue-specific manner, and for some metrics, exceeds performance of bulk tissue RNA-Seq. Libraries generated from individual salivary glands also yielded additional novel transcripts not identified in pooled salivary gland datasets, and had hundreds of enriched transcripts when compared with whole head tissues. Overall, our study demonstrates that it is feasible to produce high quality, replicated transcriptomes of whitefly salivary glands and other low-input tissues. We anticipate that our approach will expand hypothesis-driven research on salivary glands of whiteflies and other Hemiptera, thus enabling novel control strategies to disrupt feeding and virus transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Gebiola
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Brandon H Le
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
- Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Kerry E Mauck
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
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Macfadyen S, Paull C, Boykin L, De Barro P, Maruthi M, Otim M, Kalyebi A, Vassão D, Sseruwagi P, Tay W, Delatte H, Seguni Z, Colvin J, Omongo C. Cassava whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in East African farming landscapes: a review of the factors determining abundance. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2018; 108:565-582. [PMID: 29433589 PMCID: PMC7672366 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485318000032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a pest species complex that causes widespread damage to cassava, a staple food crop for millions of households in East Africa. Species in the complex cause direct feeding damage to cassava and are the vectors of multiple plant viruses. Whilst significant work has gone into developing virus-resistant cassava cultivars, there has been little research effort aimed at understanding the ecology of these insect vectors. Here we assess critically the knowledge base relating to factors that may lead to high population densities of sub-Saharan African (SSA) B. tabaci species in cassava production landscapes of East Africa. We focus first on empirical studies that have examined biotic or abiotic factors that may lead to high populations. We then identify knowledge gaps that need to be filled to deliver sustainable management solutions. We found that whilst many hypotheses have been put forward to explain the increases in abundance witnessed since the early 1990s, there are little published data and these tend to have been collected in a piecemeal manner. The most critical knowledge gaps identified were: (i) understanding how cassava cultivars and alternative host plants impact population dynamics and natural enemies; (ii) the impact of natural enemies in terms of reducing the frequency of outbreaks and (iii) the use and management of insecticides to delay the development of resistance. In addition, there are several fundamental methodologies that need to be developed and deployed in East Africa to address some of the more challenging knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Macfadyen
- CSIRO, Clunies Ross St. Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
- Author for correspondence Phone: +61 (02) 62464432 Fax: +61 (02) 62464094
| | - C. Paull
- CSIRO, Boggo Rd. Dutton Park, QLD, 4001, Australia
| | - L.M. Boykin
- University of Western Australia, School of Molecular Sciences, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - P. De Barro
- CSIRO, Boggo Rd. Dutton Park, QLD, 4001, Australia
| | - M.N. Maruthi
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
| | - M. Otim
- National Crops Resources Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda
| | - A. Kalyebi
- National Crops Resources Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda
- Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 6226 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - D.G. Vassão
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knoell Str. 8 D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - P. Sseruwagi
- Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 6226 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - W.T. Tay
- CSIRO, Boggo Rd. Dutton Park, QLD, 4001, Australia
| | - H. Delatte
- CIRAD, UMR PVBMT, Saint Pierre, La Réunion 97410-F, France
| | - Z. Seguni
- Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 6226 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - J. Colvin
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
| | - C.A. Omongo
- National Crops Resources Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda
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Jacobson AL, Duffy S, Sseruwagi P. Whitefly-transmitted viruses threatening cassava production in Africa. Curr Opin Virol 2018; 33:167-176. [PMID: 30243102 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2018.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Emerging plant viruses are one of the greatest problems facing crop production worldwide, and have severe consequences in the developing world where subsistence farming is a major source of food production, and knowledge and resources for management are limited. In Africa, evolution of two viral disease complexes, cassava mosaic begomoviruses (CMBs) (Geminiviridae) and cassava brown streak viruses (CBSVs) (Potyviridae), have resulted in severe pandemics that continue to spread and threaten cassava production. Identification of genetically diverse and rapidly evolving CMBs and CBSVs, extensive genetic variation in the vector, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and numerous secondary endosymbiont profiles that influence vector phenotypes suggest that complex local and regional vector-virus-plant-environment interactions may be driving the evolution and epidemiology of these viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana Lynn Jacobson
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, 301 Funchess Hall, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
| | - Siobain Duffy
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, 14 College Farm Rd, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Peter Sseruwagi
- Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 6226, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Rossitto De Marchi B, Kinene T, Mbora Wainaina J, Krause-Sakate R, Boykin L. Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals genetic diversity in the endosymbiont Hamiltonella between native and exotic populations of Bemisia tabaci from Brazil. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201411. [PMID: 30052670 PMCID: PMC6063447 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is a species complex of more than 40 cryptic species and a major agricultural pest. It causes extensive damage to plants mainly by transmitting plant viruses. There is still a lack of genomic data available for the different whitefly species found in Brazil and their bacterial endosymbionts. Understanding the genetic and transcriptomic composition of these insect pests, the viruses they transmit and the microbiota is crucial to sustainable solutions for farmers to control whiteflies. Illumina RNA-Seq was used to obtain the transcriptome of individual whiteflies from 10 different populations from Brazil including Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1), Mediterranean (MED) and New World 2 (NW2). Raw reads were assembled using CLC Genomics Workbench and subsequently mapped to reference genomes. We obtained whitefly complete mitochondrial genomes and draft genomes from the facultative bacterial endosymbiont Hamiltonella for further phylogenetic analyses. In addition, nucleotide sequences of the GroEL chaperonin gene from Hamiltonella from different populations were obtained and analysed. There was concordance in the species clustering using the whitefly complete mitogenome and the mtCOI gene tree. On the other hand, the phylogenetic analysis using the 12 ORF's of Hamiltonella clustered the native species NW2 apart from the exotics MEAM1 and MED. In addition, the amino acid analysis of GroEL chaperonin revealed a deletion only in Hamiltonella infecting NW2 among whiteflies populations analysed which was further confirmed by PCR and Sanger sequencing. The genomic data obtained in this study will aid understanding the functions that Hamiltonella may have in whitefly biology and serve as a reference for further studies regarding whiteflies in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tonny Kinene
- School of Molecular Sciences and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - James Mbora Wainaina
- School of Molecular Sciences and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Renate Krause-Sakate
- UNESP–Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Ciências Agronomicas, Botucatu-SP, Brazil
| | - Laura Boykin
- School of Molecular Sciences and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, WA, Australia
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