Assessing the Temporal Effects of Squash vein yellowing virus Infection on Settling and Feeding Behavior of Bemisia tabaci (MEAM1) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

Insect vector behavior and biology can be affected by pathogen-induced changes in the physiology and morphology of the host plant. Herein, we examined the temporal effects of Squash vein yellowing virus (family Potyviridae, genus Ipomovirus) infection on the settling, oviposition preference, and feeding behavior of its whitefly vector, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1), formerly known as B. tabaci biotype B. Settling and oviposition behavioral choice assays were conducted on pairs of infected and mock-inoculated watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb) Matsum and Nakai) (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae) at 5–6 days post inoculation (DPI) and 10–12 DPI. Electropenetrography, or electrical penetration graph (both abbreviated EPG), was used to assess differences in feeding behaviors of whitefly on mock-inoculated, 5–6 and 10–12 DPI infected watermelon plants. Whiteflies showed no preference in settling or oviposition on the infected and mock-inoculated plants at 5–6 DPI. However, at 10–12 DPI, whiteflies initially settled on infected plants but then preference of settling shifted to mock-inoculated plants after 8 h. Only at 10–12 DPI, females laid significantly more eggs on mock-inoculated plants than infected plants. EPG revealed no differences in whitefly feeding behaviors among mock-inoculated, 5–6 DPI infected and 10–12 DPI infected plants. The results highlighted the need to examine plant disease progression and its effect on vector behavior and performance, which could play a crucial role in Squash vein yellowing virus spread.