Effect of silencing Bemisia tabaci TLR3 and TOB1 on fitness and begomovirus transmission

(Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the most important invasive pests worldwide. It infests several vegetables, legumes, fiber, and ornamental crops. Besides causing direct damage by sucking plant sap, is the principal vector of begomoviruses. (ChiLCV ) transmitted by is a major constraint in chilli production. genes associated with metabolism, signaling pathways, cellular processes, and organismal systems are highly enriched in response to ChiLCV infection. The previous transcriptome study suggested the association of ( ) and ( ) in ChiLCV infection. In the present study, and were silenced using double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and the effect on fitness and begomovirus transmission has been reported. Oral delivery of dsRNA at 3 µg/mL reduced the expression of and by 6.77 and 3.01-fold, respectively. Silencing of and induced significant mortality in adults compared to untreated control. The ChiLCV copies in significantly reduced post-exposure to and dsRNAs. The ability of to transmit ChiLCV also declined post-silencing and . This is the first-ever report of silencing and to induce mortality and impair virus transmission ability in . and would be novel genetic targets to manage and restrict the spread of begomovirus.