Virus-mediated interactions between aphids and beans

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

• Francis Wamonje
• Friday 15 November 2013, 13:30-13:55
• Department of Plant Sciences, Large Lecture Theatre.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Megan Cooper.

The potyviruses Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) and bean common mosaic necrotic virus (BCMNV), and to a lesser extent cucumber mosaic virus (a cucumovirus) are major constraints to bean production in Africa. Beans are important because they can be inter-cropped with other crops saving on space and fertilizer due to their ability to fix nitrogen naturally. Nutritionally, beans also constitute a substantial part of the protein intake. Unfortunately, genetic options for virus control are limited because plants carrying a major dominantly inherited resistance gene to BCMV are susceptible to systemic necrosis induction by BCMNV , which is endemic in Africa. Recessive resistance genes are too strain-specific to provide broad resistance. BCMV and BCMNV are both transmitted by aphids. Aphid-transmitted viruses prove increasingly problematic due to the evolution of pesticide resistance in aphids and increases in the geographical range of aphids and the viruses they spread due to climate change. Previous studies with CMV , and the potyvirus potato virus Y (PVY) in model plants (tobacco and Arabidopsis thaliana) and crops (potato) have shown that virus infection affects aphid behaviour by altering the attractiveness of the plant host. Based on the results and the techniques developed from these studies we shall seek to understand more about how BCMV , BCMNV and CMV influence bean-aphid interactions. I present preliminary data on free choice experiments carried out using a bean specialist aphid (Aphis fabae) and a generalist (Myzus persicae) on BCMV and, BCMNV infected beans and this how affects aphid behaviour.

This talk is part of the Plant Sciences Research Seminars series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• All Talks (aka the CURE list)
• Biology
• Biology
• CambPlants Hub
• Cambridge Global Food Security
• Cambridge Infectious Diseases
• Department of Plant Sciences, Large Lecture Theatre
• Featured lists
• Life Sciences
• Life Sciences
• ME Seminar
• Plant Sciences Research Seminars
• my_list
• other talks

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.