Detalle de: INTERACCION PLANTA-VIRUS-PULGON(-MICROBIOMA) EN LA ECOLOGIA Y CONTROL BIOLOGICO DE LAS VIROSIS

Effective pest and disease management in agriculture is crucial for ensuring sustainable food production. Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV, genus Polerovirus) and watermelon mosaic virus (WMV, genus Potyvirus) are two major aphid-transmitted viruses with substantial reductions in the quality and yield of cucurbit crops. These viruses have become increasingly prevalent in Spain, occurring as single and mixed infections, with a rising incidence in melon, watermelon, zucchini, and squash over recent growing seasons. Notably, alternative plant species and their aphid vector, Aphis gossypii Glover, are likely playing a central role in the prevalence and spread of CABYV and WMV among these crops. However, the complex interplay between different plant species and mixed viral infections in agricultural contexts, including the role of aphid-vector behavior, remain largely unexplored. Within this context, and considering the profound effects of the aphid-associated bacteria community on the aphid life-history traits, it is also promising to explore the influence of the A. gossypii microbiome to unravel potential biocontrol strategies in crops. This proposal aims to increase our understanding on the ecological interplay between plant-virus(es) and aphid-associated microbiomes. Its findings will provide fundamental insights into the transmission of plant viruses by aphids under conditions of mixed infections and across various agroecological interfaces. Furthermore, it will enable the identification and characterization of potential viruses (bacteriophages and/or insect viruses) that could contribute to the development of microbial resource-based strategies for controlling aphid pests and viral diseases in plants

Principal investigator: PEDRO GOMEZ LOPEZ

Participants: Inmaculada Ferriol Safont; Miguel Juárez Gómez; Monica Asunción Hurtado Ruiz; Celia de Moya Ruiz