There are seven pairs of candidates running in the Republican primary for Minnesota governor and lieutenant governor: Loner Blue and Andrew Maass, Lisa Demuth and Ryan Wilson, Raul J Estrada and Joe K...

Coinfection, when hosts are infected with more than one parasite, can modify life-history traits of both parasites and their host. We investigated reciprocal interactions between tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and a non-vector spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, in coinfections on tomato plants. We compared the number of T. urticae daughters and adults and the viral load for two TSWV isolates (France81, which is more virulent, and LYE1137vir) in single and coinfections, and measured host traits (height, fresh weight, chlorophyll content, and number of flowers). TSWV infection reduced plant height, weight, flowers and chlorophyll content, especially when infected with isolate France81. T. urticae only reduced plant height. The more virulent TSWV isolate facilitated spider mites by increasing the number of daughters per unit of plant height, thus potentially enabling equivalent levels of mite transmission as from virus-free plants. In contrast, there was no effect of T. urticae on the load of either TSWV isolate. Nevertheless, the additive reduction in plant height in coinfection may increase host mortality and reduce the time available for transmission of both parasites. This work highlights that it can be important to incorporate measures of host and parasite life-history traits across an entire infection when investigating the consequences of coinfection for parasite fitness. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Agence Nationale de la Recherche, https://ror.org/00rbzpz17, ANR-20-CE35-0013

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) causes substantial yield losses worldwide, yet the mechanisms underlying its seed transmission remain insufficiently defined. We provide anatomical and molecular evidence that TSWV colonizes key reproductive tissues of Capsicum annuum, including anthers, pollen grains, ovaries, and ovules. Using controlled cross-pollination, we demonstrate that vertical transmission can occur through infected pollen (40% seed infection; 20% seedling infection) and through infected maternal tissues/ovules (30% seed infection; 30% seedling infection). Mechanistically, these data reveal two independent routes for vertical transmission: pollen-borne and ovule-borne. This finding directly supports two evidence-based management interventions: (i) the removal of infected male plants from seed production fields to block pollen-borne spread, and (ii) the selection of virus-free maternal lines to minimize ovule-mediated transmission. Incorporating both pollen- and ovule-associated transmission into epidemiological models and resistance breeding programs will therefore be critical for mitigating seed-borne TSWV losses in chili pepper.

YouTube video by トモイナ

YouTube video by The Dai Thao Show

There are seven pairs of candidates running in the DFL primary for Minnesota governor and lieutenant governor: Thomas Evenstad and Jason Haarsager, Bill E. Gates Jr. and Leah Harris, Amy Klobuchar and...

YouTube video by The Dai Thao Show

A research team composed of plant virologists from the Plant Virus Department at Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, the Italian National Research Council and BASF-Nunhems Italy, has recently published the findings of a scientific collaboration on investigating the occurrence of resistance-breaking strains of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in tomato and pepper fields. The results, which prove for the first time the emergence of double resistance-breaking strains (D-RB) of TSWV in agricultural settings, have been published in Virology.

A caucus is a gathering of neighbors who come together to discuss issues, set priorities for our party, and organize our local DFL unit. Now, more than ever, caucusing is an essential tool for Minneso...

thrips, insv, tswv, rasp, suck, vector, disease, flowers