Effects of Cucumber mosaic virus – infected chilli plants on non-vector Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

Plant virus infections are known to alter host plant attractiveness and suitability for insect herbivores. This study was conducted to determine how Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)-infected chilli plants affect the fitness and settling preferences of non-vector whitefly, Bemisia tabaci adults under dual-choice conditions with volatile organic compounds analyzed using solid phase micro-extraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results showed that the presence of CMV in chilli plants substantially affects the settling preferences of the B. tabaci, which preferred to settle on non-infected plants. Duration of the egg stage and the longevity and fecundity of adult B. tabaci on CMV-infected chilli plants were not markedly different from those on non-infected chilli plants. In contrast, the developmental time from egg to adult was significantly reduced in CMV-infected chilli plants compared to the non-infected plants. The results also showed that CMV-infected chilli plants released significantly more linalool and phenylacetaldehyde than non-infected plants. Overall, it was suggested that the behavioural response of B. tabaci might be modified by CMV-infected plants, which alter the release of specific headspace volatiles. Based on these results, the modification of plant volatile profiles may help in enhancing the effectiveness of biological control and the protection of crop plants against B. tabaci. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved