Article
Agronomy
Sana Bashir, Sumaira Farrakh, Tayyaba Yasmin, Aish Muhammad, Tasmia Bashir, Hakim Manghwar, Freddy Mora-Poblete, Shehzad Iqbal, Alaa Baazeem, Muhammad Zeeshan Hyder
Summary: Banana bunchy top disease is the most devastating viral disease of bananas. The study found that there were variations in the copy number and transcript levels of the virus in different tissues, which can assist in sensitive disease diagnosis and management.
Article
Microbiology
Valentin Guyot, Rajendran Rajeswaran, Huong Cam Chu, Chockalingam Karthikeyan, Nathalie Laboureau, Serge Galzi, Lyna F. T. Mukwa, Mart Krupovic, P. Lava Kumar, Marie-Line Iskra-Caruana, Mikhail M. Pooggin
Summary: The study identified a newly emerging alphasatellite of BBTV in Africa, likely originated from a dicot plant, which interferes with BBTV replication and transmission. This alphasatellite competes for host machinery and reduces helper virus loads, altering viral genome components and interfering with virus transmission.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Keladome Maturin Geoffroy Dato, Mahougnon Robinson Degbegni, Mintode Nicodeme Atchade, Martine Zandjanakou Tachin, Mahouton Norbert Hounkonnou, Bonaventure Aman Omondi
Summary: This study examined the management and vegetation conditions in smallholder gardens to assess factors linked to landscape-level BBTV transmission and management. Using mapping, spatial scanning statistics, and Poisson regression models, high-risk spatial groups were identified in three communities. Significant associations were found between BBTD prevalence and crop diversity, seed systems, and BBTD management factors, which are important for further assessment of landscape-scale BBTD management in smallholder communities.
Article
Plant Sciences
Fe M. M. Dela Cueva, Nicole Angelee M. Perez, Ann Fatima A. Benjamin, Lyka A. A. Yanos, Lavernee S. S. Gueco, John E. E. Thomas
Summary: Banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) caused by banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is the most important virus affecting banana. No banana cultivar or accession has complete resistance to BBTD. In screening tests, wild Musa spp. accessions showed resistance against BBTV, with Musa balbisiana remaining symptomless and BBTV-negative while Musa acuminata and susceptible control plants developed the disease. The resistant M. balbisiana accessions can be valuable resources for conventional and marker-assisted breeding.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lilian Nkengla-Asi, Favour Eforuoku, Olamide Olaosebikan, Temitope Adejoju Ladigbolu, Delphine Amah, Rachid Hanna, P. Lava Kumar
Summary: The study investigated the gender dimensions and sociocultural aspects of banana seed sourcing and sharing practices among male and female farmers in BBTD and non-BBTD areas in southwest Nigeria. It found that seed sharing is a social responsibility within communities, with differences in sourcing practices between men and women farmers potentially increasing the risk of disease spread. Awareness raising efforts on disease spread through infected seeds should consider gender-specific roles and social practices to mitigate its spread within communities.
Article
Plant Sciences
Sergine Ngatat, Rachid Hanna, Jules Lienou, Richard T. Ghogomu, Sidonie Prisca K. Nguidang, Aime C. Enoh, Bertrand Ndemba, Sam Korie, Apollin Fotso Kuate, Samuel Nanga Nanga, Komi K. M. Fiaboe, P. Lava Kumar
Summary: This study assessed different Musa germplasm for resistance to banana aphids, finding genotypes that showed resistance to banana bunchy top disease and least susceptibility to aphid population growth.
Article
Agronomy
Swati Chakraborty, Mritunjoy Barman, Snigdha Samanta, Moupiya Roy, Jayanta Tarafdar
Summary: Acquisition of plant viruses affects the developmental biology of vectors, with Pentalonia nigronervosa known to transmit the economically detrimental banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). This study compared the lifespan and temperature susceptibility of viruliferous and non-viruliferous aphids, finding a reduction in lifespan and differential expression of heat shock proteins at various temperatures in viruliferous aphids. The transmission efficiency of BBTV by P. nigronervosa was lowest at 15 degrees C compared to 38 degrees C, shedding light on the intricate interaction between aphid fitness and thermal stress in virus acquisition and transmission.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tunrayo R. Alabi, Julius Adewopo, Ojo Patrick Duke, P. Lava Kumar
Summary: This study developed a remote sensing approach and machine learning models to identify banana fields for targeted BBTV surveillance in sub-Saharan Africa. Results showed that the machine learning algorithms using UAV, SAR, and Sentinel 2A data performed well in classifying land cover, with high accuracy and Kappa coefficient.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sangita Venkataraman, Ramasamy Selvarajan, Sundaram S. Subramanian, Savithri S. Handanahalli
Summary: This study investigated the structure of the coat protein (CP) from a Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) isolate from Hill banana in Tamilnadu. The study revealed insights into the possible fold and pentameric form of the CP. In silico reconstruction of the capsid aided understanding of subunit organization and interactions. The study also provided useful insights into nucleic acid binding and the role of the genome in capsid assembly.
Article
Microbiology
Valentin Guyot, Ngoc-Sam Ly, Tien-Dung Trieu, Oudomphone Insisiengmay, Ting Zhang, Marie-Line Iskra-Caruana, Mikhail M. Pooggin
Summary: This study found that plants in the Asteraceae and Commelinaceae families can serve as alternative hosts for Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) and its alphasatellites. Understanding these alternative hosts is important for studying the replication, transmission, and host range of BBTV.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Darsana Dilip, Vimi Louis, H. S. Savithri, P. M. Namitha
Summary: The study cloned the full length BBTV CP into an expression vector, achieving efficient and stable overexpression using the RF cloning platform. High quality fusion protein with GST tag was obtained through TEV protease cleavage and GSH sepharose affinity column purification, with fluorescence spectra investigations indicating partial disordered tertiary structure.
Article
Agronomy
Hein Bouwmeester, Guy Blomme, Aman Bonaventure Omondi, Walter Ocimati
Summary: Banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) has a severe impact on banana production and smallholder farmers in Africa. Mapping vulnerability of landscapes to monitor BBTD establishment and spread is crucial for proactive measures. Through logistic regression, the relationship between field observations and environmental covariate maps was determined to highlight the current and future risks of BBTD. Using this information, a priority map was created to identify areas that need the most attention in combating BBTD through surveillance and prevention measures.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ruth Feti Rahayuniati, Siti Subandiyah, Sedyo Hartono, Susamto Somowiyarjo, Ruly Eko Kusuma Kurniawan, Ady Bayu Prakoso, Kathy Crew, Megan E. Vance, Jane D. Ray, John E. Thomas
Summary: The study found that banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is present in banana plants across various islands in Indonesia, with molecular analysis showing that BBTV isolates mainly belong to the South East Asian subgroup. Additionally, natural infections of BBTV were also observed on other plants such as abaca and wild banana.
TROPICAL PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Ignace Safari Murhububa, Kevin Tougeron, Claude Bragard, Marie-Laure Fauconnier, David Mugisho Bugeme, Espoir Bisimwa Basengere, Jean Walangululu Masamba, Thierry Hance
Summary: Viral diseases can change plant metabolism, potentially affecting the quality of the plant's food supply for insect pests, including virus vectors. Research found that the banana aphid had higher daily fecundity when infected with the Banana bunchy top virus, but had shorter lifespan. The impact on reproductive traits and longevity varied depending on the different banana plant genotypes.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chunsheng Hou, Hao Liang, Chenxiao Chen, Hongxia Zhao, Pengfei Zhao, Shuai Deng, Beibei Li, Dahe Yang, Sa Yang, Lena Wilfert
Summary: Domesticated honeybees and wild bees are essential for human and environmental health, but infectious diseases, such as Varroa destructor mite as a viral vector, pose a significant threat to these pollinators. Lake Sinai Viruses (LSV) have been found in honeybee colonies, but the global epidemiology and transmission patterns of LSV remain unclear. This study investigates the diversity and association of LSV with different honeybee species and suggests a potential role of migratory beekeeping in pathogen spread.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Anna E. Hiller, Michelle S. Koo, Kari R. Goodman, Kerry L. Shaw, Patrick M. O'Grady, Rosemary G. Gillespie
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2019)
Article
Entomology
Jen-Fu Liao, Carol-P Wu, Cheng-Kang Tang, Chi-Wei Tsai, Lenka Rouhova, Yueh-Lung Wu
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Robert R. H. Anholt, Patrick O'Grady, Mariana F. Wolfner, Susan T. Harbison
Article
Entomology
Fang-Yu Hu, De-Fen Mou, Chi-Wei Tsai
JOURNAL OF ASIA-PACIFIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Min-Ting Liao, De-Fen Mou, Ya-Chun Chang, Chi-Wei Tsai
ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Virology
Cecilia A. Prator, Rodrigo P. P. Almeida
Article
Entomology
Fang-Yu Hu, Chi-Wei Tsai
Article
Virology
Yi-Shu Chiu, Yuh Tzean, Yi-Hui Chen, Chi-Wei Tsai, Hsin-Hung Yeh
Summary: The study evaluated the efficacy of fungal F8-culture filtrate on tomato plants to combat tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus. Results showed that treatment with F8-culture filtrate induced strong resistance against the virus without affecting tomato growth. The study provides an effective way to induce tomato resistance against the devastating tomato yellow leaf curl disease caused by whitefly-transmitted begomoviruses.
Article
Microbiology
Ling-Wei Weng, Yu-Chen Lin, Chiou-Chu Su, Ching-Ting Huang, Shu-Ting Cho, Ai-Ping Chen, Shu-Jen Chou, Chi-Wei Tsai, Chih-Horng Kuo
Summary: The Xylella genus contains plant pathogens that are major threats to agriculture in America and Europe. Extensive research has been conducted on different subspecies of Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), but comparative analysis at above-species levels was lacking due to the unavailability of appropriate data sets. A new Xylella species causing pear leaf scorch in Taiwan was recently described, and the complete genome sequence of this species was reported in this study. The study contributed to understanding the phylogeny, genomic divergence, and gene content of various Xylella representatives.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Augusto Santos Rampasso, Patrick Michael O'Grady
Summary: The genus Scaptomyza is one of the two Drosophilidae genera with Hawaiian endemic species, making it a valuable model for biogeographic studies. Despite the description of 273 species, inconsistencies in terminology necessitate the provision of visual atlases and preferred terms for future descriptions.
Review
Biology
David H. Hembry, Gordon Bennett, Emilie Bess, Idelle Cooper, Steve Jordan, James Liebherr, Karl N. Magnacca, Diana M. Percy, Dan A. Polhemus, Daniel Rubinoff, Kerry L. Shaw, Patrick M. O'Grady
Summary: Recent research on major endemic Hawaiian insect radiations has shown that many insect clades colonized the archipelago prior to the formation of the current high islands, with diversity in most radiations shaped by a complicated interplay of among-island dispersal and within-island diversification. Additionally, a positive relationship between clade age and species richness in Hawaiian insects has been observed, with variance likely explained by ecology and clade-specific factors.
QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Zeeshan A. Syed, Romano Dallai, Negar Nasirzadeh, Julie A. Brill, Patrick M. O'Grady, Siyuan Cong, Ethan M. Leef, Sarah Rice, Amaar Asif, Stephanie Nguyen, Matthew M. Hansen, Steve Dorus, Scott Pitnick
Summary: Postcopulatory sexual selection plays a significant role in driving the rapid evolution of reproductive traits, leading to correlated evolution between sperm length and female sperm-storage organ dimension. Research in Drosophila has unveiled a novel spermatogenic mechanism, sperm cyst looping, which allows males to produce relatively long sperm in short testes. This evolutionary innovation removes the allometric constraint on sperm length, enabling males to evolve extremely long sperm while evading delays in reproductive maturation time.
Article
Zoology
Spencer L. Pote, Patrick O'Grady
Summary: This article describes and illustrates a new species of insect called Anticheta patzcuaroensis Pote from Lake Patzcuaro in Michoacan, Mexico. It belongs to the family Sciomyzidae in the order Diptera. The article also provides information about the Sciomyzidae holdings in the Cornell University Insect Collection.
Article
Education & Educational Research
Nicole Chodkowski, Patrick M. O'Grady, Chelsea D. Specht, Kelly R. Zamudio
Summary: Organismal courses integrate concepts from genetics, physiology, ecology, and other disciplines through a comparative and phylogenetic framework. By focusing on organismal knowledge and authentic examples, students can learn foundational concepts and investigate biological hypotheses. Active learning strategies can promote an inclusive classroom and test students' understanding of core biological concepts.
FRONTIERS IN EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Augusto Santos Rampasso, Patrick Michael O'grady
Summary: This checklist provides taxonomic information and distributions for 720 drosophilid species, including the most recent common ancestor of the Hawaiian Drosophilidae and adventive species in the Hawaiian Islands. It is the first comprehensive list in over a decade and will serve as a basis for future revisionary work on the endemic Hawaiian Drosophilidae.