Characterisation of the Viral Community Associated with the Alfalfa Weevil (Hypera postica) and Its Host Plant, Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
Creators
- 1. DGIMI Diversity, Genomes and Microorganisms–Insects Interactions, University of Montpellier, INRAE, 34095 Montpellier, France;
- 2. CIRAD, UMR PHIM, 34090 Montpellier, France
- 3. PHIM Plant Health Institute, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD, 34090 Montpellier, France
- 4. MIVEGEC Infectious and Vector Diseases: Ecology, Genetics, Evolution and Control, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 34394 Montpellier, France
Description
Advances in viral metagenomics have paved the way of virus discovery by making the
exploration of viruses in any ecosystem possible. Applied to agroecosystems, such an approach
opens new possibilities to explore how viruses circulate between insects and plants, which may
help to optimise their management. It could also lead to identifying novel entomopathogenic viral
resources potentially suitable for biocontrol strategies. We sampled the larvae of a natural population
of alfalfa weevils (Hypera postica), a major herbivorous pest feeding on legumes, and its host plant
alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Insect and plant samples were collected from a crop field and an adjacent
meadow. We characterised the diversity and abundance of viruses associated with weevils and
alfalfa, and described nine putative new virus species, including four associated with alfalfa and five
with weevils. In addition, we found that trophic accumulation may result in a higher diversity of
plant viruses in phytophagous pests compared to host plants.
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viruses-13-00791-v2-Francois.pdf
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