Glasilo biljne zaštite, Vol. 20 No. 5, 2020.
Review article
INSECT VECTORS OF PLANT DISEASES
Marin Cukrov
; Institut za poljoprivredu i turizam, Zavod za poljoprivredu i prehranu, Poreč
Darija Lemić
orcid.org/0000-0002-1175-3716
; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Agronomski fakultet, Zavod za poljoprivrednu zoologiju
Igor Pasković
; Institut za poljoprivredu i turizam, Zavod za poljoprivredu i prehranu, Poreč
Abstract
Insects from the Hemiptera and Thysanoptera order are vectors of numerous pathogenic viruses, bacteria, fungi, phytoplasmas and spiroplasmas. They are characterized by fast reproduction and a broad plant-host spectre which they damage either directly by feeding or indirectly through transmittance of pathogenic organisms. Modern-day research of insect vectors is focused on investigating the mechanisms underlying the pathogen’s influence over its vector. It also aims to discover the molecular and metabolic components in plants, pathogens and their vectors which facilitate pathogen transmission and disease spread. Aphids (Aphididae), whiteflies (Aleyroidae) and thrips (Thripidae) are most important vectors of numerous plant viruses. Leafhoppers belonging only to Agallinae and Deltocephalinae subfamilies transmit viruses whereas numerous species within Cicadellidae, Aphrophoridae and Cercopidae family, transmit phytoplasmas, bacteria as well as quarantine pathogens such as the bacteria Xylella fastidiosa. All pathogens transmitted by insect vectors use complex strategies to enhance effectiveness of their transmission and spread. Most pathogens show high specificity towards their insect vectors since certain anatomical and genetic predispositions must be appeased in order to achieve successful transmission. Pathogens also devised intriguing ways to manipulate vector behaviour and change its feeding and reproductive habits. In this review, we present biological predispositions of different vector-insects for pathogen transmission, highlight mechanisms in plant-vector-pathogen interactions and point out distinct ways of pathogen transmission.
Keywords
Aphididae; Aleyroidae; Cicadellidae; Thripidae; pathogen transmission; insect manipulation
Hrčak ID:
244663
URI
Publication date:
10.10.2020.
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