Preference of Pentalonia nigronervosa for infected banana plants tends to reverse after Banana buchy top virus acquisition

Abstract

Abstract Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel (Hemitera: Aphididae) is the vector agent of Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), the most serious viral disease of banana (Musa spp) in the world. Before acquiring the virus, the vector is more attracted to infected banana plants thanks to increased emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Here, we test the hypothesis that BBTV acquisition directly modifies the preference of P. nigronervosa for infected banana plants, and if this change in behaviour could result from the alteration of the organs linked to the VOC detection or linked to the flight of the vector. We found that the preference of P. nigronervosa for infected banana plants reverses with virus acquisition in dessert banana, while it remains similar between healthy and infected banana plants before and after the acquisition of BBTV. At the same time, aphids reared on infected bananas had smaller forewing areas and hind tibia length than aphids reared on healthy bananas, while the number of secondary rhinaria on the antennae was lower on dessert banana reared aphids than plantain reared aphids, regardless of infection status. These results support the "Vector Manipulation Hypothesis - VMH" of pathogens to promote their spread. They have implications for the BBTV management.