Effect of Banana Bunchy Top Virus on the Heat Shock Protein Genes of Pentalonia nigronervosa during Temperature Susceptibility and Its Effect on Virus Transmission

Acquisition of plant viruses is known to exert various effects on vectors' developmental biology. Pentalonia nigronervosa is the only known vector of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), which is an economically detrimental virus infecting banana cultivars all over the world. In the present study, the developmental biology of viruliferous (Vr) and non-viruliferous (NVr) aphids was compared, with a marked reduction noted in the lifespan of aphids upon acquisition of BBTV. Among all the environmental parameters temperature is an important determinant of an insect's abundance and geographical distribution. Temperature susceptibility of P. nigronervosa was scrutinized by comparing the mortality percentage and differential expression pattern of three heat shock proteins (Hsps; Hsp40, Hsp70, and Hsp90) at the mRNA level between NVr and Vr aphids. After exposure to different temperature stress (5 degrees C, 15 degrees C, 38 degrees C and 25 degrees C as control) highest mortality of Vr aphids were recorded at 5 degrees C. Analysis of expression levels of Hsp genes using qPCR showed that both cold and heat shock treatment stimulated higher expression of the three Hsps at various rates in Vr than NVr aphids.. Finally, the effect of temperature stress on the BBTV titer level and their transmission by P.nigronervosa was determined by absolute quantification. The transmission efficiency along with the virus titer was found to be the lowest at 15 degrees C compared to 38 degrees C. Overall, our results provide a novel insight into the intricate interaction between aphid fitness and thermal stress concerning the acquisition and transmission of BBTV, which could be a roadmap for the future epidemiological control system.

Automated summary

Acquisition of plant viruses affects the developmental biology of vectors, with Pentalonia nigronervosa known to transmit the economically detrimental banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). This study compared the lifespan and temperature susceptibility of viruliferous and non-viruliferous aphids, finding a reduction in lifespan and differential expression of heat shock proteins at various temperatures in viruliferous aphids. The transmission efficiency of BBTV by P. nigronervosa was lowest at 15 degrees C compared to 38 degrees C, shedding light on the intricate interaction between aphid fitness and thermal stress in virus acquisition and transmission.