Plant-insect vector-virus interactions under environmental change

Abstract

Insects play an important role in the spread of viruses from infected plants to healthy hosts through a variety of transmission strategies. Environmental factors continuously influence virus transmission and result in the establishment of infection or disease. Plant virus diseases become epidemic when viruses successfully dominate the surrounding ecosystem. Plant-insect vector-virus interactions influence each other; pushing each other for their benefit and survival. These interactions are modulated through environmental factors, though environmental influences are not readily predictable. This review focuses on exploiting the diverse relationships, embedded in the plant-insect vector-virus triangle by highlighting recent research findings. We examined the interactions between viruses, insect vectors, and host plants, and explored how these interactions affect their behavior.

Keywords: Ecosystem; Environment; Evolution; Pathogen; Transmission; Virus.