Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Plant Pathology / Dorith Rotenberg / Frankliniella occidentalis, the western flower thrips, transmits the plant-pathogenic virus, Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), through a circulative-propagative transmission strategy. The virus infects and replicates in the insect, traversing membrane barriers as it moves from the midgut to the salivary glands for subsequent inoculation of a plant host. Based on well-characterized virus-vector systems, many molecular interactions occur as the virus completes an infection cycle in the vector, and knowledge of transcriptome-wide response of thrips to TSWV has been limited. My research goals were to gain insight into i) the molecular responses that occur in thrips vectors of orthotospoviruses, ii) the role of antiviral defense in viruliferous thrips, and iii) plant transgenic-based strategies for studying thrips gene function and crop-pest control. To this end, my specific research objectives were to: 1) generate, assemble, and annotate a RNA-Seq-derived transcriptome for F. occidentalis using the thrips genome, and to quantify global gene expression in response to TSWV activity in larval, pre-pupal, and adult developmental stages, 2) conduct a time-course experiment to determine the effect(s) of challenging TSWV-exposed and non-exposed thrips with dsRNAs of F. occidentalis Dcr-2 or AGO2 by hemocoel injection, and 3) construct transgenic plants expressing a thrips-gene specific dsRNA hairpin to target a vital gene. My research has catalogued insect response to TSWV activity in thrips during development and provides candidate sequences for functional analysis of genes involved in insect development and defense. Successful silencing of the antiviral RNAi pathway in thrips revealed increased mortality and decreased offspring production in both virus-exposed and non-exposed insects. Arabidopsis plants were developed to express dsRNA of vacuolar ATP synthase (V-ATPase) and preliminary feeding bioassays to explore the effect of these transgenics on thrips fitness indicate a need for further description of thrips dsRNA uptake. In total, my research contributes new basic knowledge underpinning the complex and dynamic relationship between thrips vectors and the plant viruses they transmit.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:42:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1192795 bytes, checksum: 39105ae81e1f922a4d76be541c837833 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-09-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The Sw-5 protein codified by the tomato Sw-5 gene confers broad spectrum tospovirus resistance. This protein contains a coil-coiled aminoterminal domain, a central nucleotide binding site domain and a leucine-rich repeat carboxi-terminal domain. These domains suggest that Sw-5 recognizes directly or indirectly virus elicitors and it participates in a signal transduction pathway that leads to the death of infected cells and activation of plant defense responses. The objective of this work was to identifiy and characterize genes encoding proteins that interacts physically with Sw-5 in the yeast two hybrid system. The screening of 5x107 Nicotiana benthamina cDNA clones, using the yeast mating strategy, did not yield any protein capable to interact with Sw-5. Analyzing 1,8 x 105 clones by co-transformation strategy, it was possible identify a cDNA that encodes an chloroplast ferredoxin I (Nb-Fd1) capable to interact with Sw-5. This protein contains a domain and a signature of 2Fe-2S proteins. Virus-induced silencing of the Nb-Fd1 gene leads to a grater number of local necrotic lesions and apical lesions in resistance plants challenged with tospovirus showing that this gene is important for tomato tospovirus resistance. This phenotype indicates that Nb-Fd1 is possibly involved in cellular redox state alteration, reactive oxygen species accumulation and programmed cell death activation processes mediated by Sw-5. / A proteína Sw-5 codificada pelo gene Sw-5 de tomateiro confere resistência de amplo espectro a tospovírus. Essa proteína contém um domínio amino-terminal coil-coiled, um domíno central de ligação a nucleotídeos fosfatados e uma região carboxi-terminal com repetições ricas em leucina. Esses domínios sugerem que a proteína Sw-5 reconhece direta ou indiretamente elicitores produzidos pelo vírus e participa de uma cadeia de transdução de sinais que leva à morte das células inicialmente infectadas pelos tospovírus e, ou, ativação de respostas de defesa da planta. Este trabalho teve como objetivo a identificação e a caracterização molecular de genes que codificam proteínas capazes de interagir fisicamente com a proteína codificada pelo gene de resistência Sw-5 por meio da utilização do sistema duplo-híbrido de leveduras. A triagem 5x107 clones de cDNAs de Nicotiana benthamina por meio da obtenção de diplóides, não revelou nenhum cDNA que codifica proteína capaz de interagir com a proteína Sw-5. A análise de 1,8 x 105 clones pelo processo de co-transformação resultou na identificação de um cDNA que codifica uma proteína ferredoxina I de cloroplasto (Nb-Fd1), capaz de interagir com a proteína Sw-5. Essa proteína contém um domínio e uma assinatura característicos de proteínas 2Fe-2S. Resultados preliminares mostraram que o silenciamento do gene que codifica Nb-Fd1 resulta em uma maior quantidade de lesões necróticas locais e lesões no ápice das plantas resistentes desafiadas com tospovírus evidenciando a não contenção do vírus no sítio de infecção. Esse fenótipo demonstra um papel de Nb-Fd1 na resistência a tospovírus. Assim, é possível que esta proteína participe do processo de alteração do potencial redox da célula, acúmulo de espécies reativas de oxigênio e ativação de morte celular programada que caracterizam a resposta de hipersensibilidade mediada pelo gene Sw-5.

A melancia [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai] é originária da África Central, e bastante cultivada por todo o mundo. No ano de 2012, a produção mundial dessa fruta foi 105.372.341 milhões de toneladas, enquanto que o Brasil produziu 2.079.547 milhões toneladas. A cultura da melancia é de suma importância econômica para o estado do Tocantins, com rendimentos no ano de 2013 de 98,5 milhões de reais. A melancia é susceptível à ação de patógenos, sendo as doenças virais de maior relevância. Os vírus do gênero Tospovirus, transmitidos exclusivamente por tripes vetores em diversas culturas, têm causados prejuízos de bilhões de dólares em custos de controle. Os tripes são encontrados em todas as regiões do Brasil, com altas infestações em cultivos de melancia, podendo causar danos diretos e/ou indiretos. Neste trabalho foram coletados espécimes de tripes nos municípios produtores de melancia do estado do Tocantins: Gurupi, Formoso do Araguaia, Lagoa da Confusão e Porto Nacional. A identificação dos caracteres morfológicos dos tripes foi realizada utilizando chave taxonômica apropriada com alterações para identificação das espécies. Parte dos insetos coletados foi realizada a extração de RNA total. Posteriormente, foi sequenciado o extraído com tecnologia de sequenciamento de nova geração (NGS). Foram identificadas três espécies de tripes nos quatro municípios produtores, F. schultzei, F. tritici e F. insularis, com predominância de infestação da espécie F. schultzei. Sendo esta a única entre as identificadas, que é considerada vetor de Tospovirus. Foi identificado nas amostras de tripes, o vírus Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV), o qual é eficientemente transmitido por F. schultzei. Entre as espécies de tripes identificadas, F. tritici e F. insularis, são registradas pela primeira vez em cultivos comerciais de melancia no Brasil. F. schultzei, é a única com relatos de danos diretos e indiretos causados em plantas de melancia, podendo ser considerada praga potencial à cultura, devido o alto nível populacional encontrado e por dificuldades no controle do tripes. / The Watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai] is originally from Central Africa, and cultivated worldwide. In 2012, the world production of this fruit was 105.372.341 million tons, while Brazil produced 2.079.547 million tons. The watermelon cropping is of paramount economic importance to the state of Tocantins, with revenues of 98.5 million, in 2013. Watermelon is susceptible to the action of microorganisms, and viral diseases presents most relevance. The Tospovirus genus, transmitted exclusively by thrips vectors in diverse crops, have caused losses of billions of dollars in cost control. Thrips are found in all regions of Brazil, with high infestations in watermelon crops, and may cause direct and/or indirect damages. In this work, it was collected thrips specimens from watermelon producers of municipalities in the state of Tocantins: Gurupi, Formoso do Araguaia, Lagoa da Confusão and Porto Nacional. The thrips identification of morphological characters was performed using appropriate taxonomic key with changes to species identification. In part of the collected insects, the total RNA extraction was performed. The extracted was subsequently sequenced with next-generation sequencing technology (NGS). Three species of thrips were identified in the four producing municipalities, F. schultzei, F. tritici, and F. insularis, with predominance of F. schultzei. Among the identified species, only F. schultzei is considered a vector of Tospovirus. In thrips samples it was identified the virus Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV), which is efficiently transmitted by F. schultzei. Among the species of thrips identified, F. tritici and F. insularis, are registered for the first time in watermelon commercial crops in Brazil. F. schultzei is the only one with reports of direct and indirect damage to watermelon plants and may be considered as a potential plague due the high population level found and difficulties in controlling it.

Submitted by Marco Antônio de Ramos Chagas (mchagas@ufv.br) on 2017-05-10T17:38:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 609213 bytes, checksum: 2d38b204162050215b755964519aea1f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-10T17:38:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 609213 bytes, checksum: 2d38b204162050215b755964519aea1f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2002-01-31 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Plantas dos acessos de Lycopersicon peruvianum (LA 444/1-19, LA 371-20, PI 126444-3, PI 126928-2, PI 126944-6 e PI 126944-12) e de L. chilense (LA 130-5 e LA 2753-11) que possuem resistência de amplo espectro a tospovírus foram utilizadas no cruzamento com a cultivar Moneymaker (L. esculentum) para produção de híbridos interespecíficos, visando a introgressão dessa resistência no tomateiro cultivado. Para superar as barreiras interespecíficas verificadas nestes cruzamentos utilizou-se o cultivo in vitro de sementes imaturas em meio de cultura Murashige & Skoog (MS). Obtiveram-se cinco híbridos do cruzamento L. esculentum x LA 130-5, quatro do cruzamento L. esculentum x LA 2753-11, quatro do cruzamento L. esculentum x LA 371-20, cinco do cruzamento L. esculentum x LA 444/1-19, um do cruzamento L. esculentum x PI 126944-6 e um do cruzamento L. esculentum x PI 126944-12. Não se obteve nenhuma planta dos cruzamentos entre L. esculentum e os acessos PI 126444 e PI 126928, mesmo utilizando-se o cultivo in vitro de semente imatura. Todos os híbridos foram auto-incompatíveis e apresentaram características morfológicas intermediárias aos seus progenitores. A natureza híbrida das plantas F 1 foi confirmada utilizando-se um marcador molecular CAPS. Alguns dos híbridos foram propagados mediante o processo de estaquia e inoculados para avaliação da resistência com isolados de tospovírus, pertencentes às espécies Tomato spotted wilt virus - TSWV, Groundnut ringspot virus GRSV e Tomato chlorotic spot virus - TCSV. Os híbridos foram submetidos a duas inoculações via extrato foliar tamponado, realizadas num intervalo de sete dias. Apenas os híbridos do cruzamento L. esculentum x LA 371-20 e L. esculentum x PI 126944-6 foram resistentes aos três isolados utilizados. Os demais híbridos foram resistentes aos isolados das espécies GRSV e TCSV, mas suscetíveis ao isolado da espécie TSWV. Os híbridos foram retrocruzados com a cultivar Moneymaker para obtenção de populações de retrocruzamento (RC). Populações RC 1 para os híbridos L. esculentum x LA 130-5, L. esculentum x LA 2753-11, L. esculentum x LA 371-20 e L. esculentum x LA 444/1-19 foram obtidas utilizando-se também o cultivo in vitro de sementes imaturas, obtendo- se um total de 99 plantas RC 1 . Estas plantas foram autofecundadas e novamente retrocruzadas com a cultivar Moneymaker, gerando populações RC 1 F 2 e RC 2 , respectivamente. O estudo da herança da resistência em uma população RC 1 F 2 derivada de L. peruvianum LA 371-20 indicou que a resistência originária dessa fonte é condicionada por um gene dominante, sendo efetiva contra três espécies de tospovírus (TSWV, TCSV e GRSV). A análise genética dessa progênie com um marcador molecular CAPS ligado ao gene Sw-5 demonstrou que o gene de resistência derivado do acesso LA 371-20 é um alelo do loco Sw-5 ou um gene proximamente ligado. / Accessions of Lycopersicon peruvianum (LA 444/1-19, LA 371-20, PI 126444-3, PI 126928-2, PI 126944-6, PI 126944-12) and L. chilense (LA 130-5, LA 2753-11) that possess wide spectrum tospovirus resistance were used in crosses with the cultivar Moneymaker (L. esculentum) for production of interspecific hybrids, seeking the introgression of this resistance into cultivated varieties. The interspecific barriers in these crossings were overcome by cultivating immature seeds in Murashige & Skoog medium. Hybrids were obtained from crosses ́Moneymaker ́x LA 130-5; ́Moneymaker ́x LA 2753-11; ́Moneymaker ́x LA 371-20; ́Moneymaker ́ x LA 444/1-19; ́Moneymaker ́ x PI 126944-6 and ́Moneymaker ́ x PI 126944-12. Seeds derived from crosses between ́Moneymaker ́and accessions PI 126444 and PI 126928 did not germinated or produced abnormal seedlings. All hybrids were self-incompatible and displayed morphological characteristics intermediate to their progenitors. The hybrid nature of the F 1 plants was also confirmed by molecular marker analysis. Cuttings from some of the hybrids were inoculated with virus isolates, belonging to the species Tomato spotted wilt virus - TSWV, Groundnut ringspot virus - GRSV and Tomato chlorotic spot virus - TCSV. Only the cuttings from ́Moneymaker ́x LA 371-20 and ́Moneymaker ́x PI 126944-6 hybrids were resistant to all isolates. The others hybrids were resistant to GRSV and TCSV, but susceptible to the TSWV isolate. The hybrids were backcrossed to ́Moneymaker ́ for production of backcross populations (RC). RC 1 populations were obtained for ́Moneymaker ́ x LA 130-5, ́Moneymaker ́x LA 2753-11, ́Moneymaker ́ x LA 371-20 and ́Moneymaker ́ x LA 444/1-19. The RC 1 plants were selfed and again backcrossed to ́Moneymaker ́ to obtain RC 1 F 2 and RC 2 populations, respectively. Inheritance studies of the resistance in a population RC 1 F 2 derived from LA 371-20, showed that the resistance of this accession is conditioned by a dominant gene effective against three tospovirus species (TSWV, TCSV and GRSV). Genetic analysis of this progeny with a molecular CAPS marker linked to Sw-5, demonstrated that the gene derived from LA 371-20 is allelic to Sw-5 or a tightly linked gene. / Dissertação importada do Alexandria

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Plant Pathology / Anna E. Whitfield / The Bunyaviridae is a family of animal and plant viruses that pose a threat to human, animal, and plant health worldwide. In nature, the dissemination of these viruses is dependent on arthropod vectors (genera Orthobunyavirus, Nairovirus, Phlebovirus, and Tospovirus) or rodent vectors (genus Hantavirus). The genus Tospovirus is the only one within this virus family that is composed of plant-infecting viruses transmitted by thrips. Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), the type species of the Tospovirus genus, is one of the ten most devastating plant viruses known. It is most efficiently transmitted by the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, in a persistant propagative manner. The insect molecules associated with virus infection and transmission by the thrips vector remain unidentified to date. The aim of this work was to identify F. occidentalis larval thrips proteins that are differentially expressed during TSWV infection of the insect vector and those that directly interact with TSWV. To achieve these goals, I used two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry coupled with Mascot searches. I identified 26 protein spots that displayed differential abundances in response to TSWV infection, which contained 37 proteins. Sixty two percent of these proteins were down-regulated by the viral infection demonstrating a complex response. Moreover, 8 and 11 protein spots that directly interacted with purified TSWV virions and a TSWV glycoprotein (GN), respectively, were identified in overlay assays of larval thrips proteins resolved by 2-D gel electrophoresis. A total of five proteins were identified from these spots. These interacting proteins might play roles in attachment and entry, endocytosis/exocytosis, and escape from different tissues for transmission to occur. Injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into adult female thrips triggered an RNAi response that resulted in 23% reduction of the target gene transcript level. This significant reduction resulted in increased mortality and decreased fertility compared to insects injected with control dsRNA or water and non-injected insects as well. The work presented here provides new insights on the molecular basis of this virus-vector interaction and describes new tools to conduct functional genomic assays to study gene function and design control strategies of F. occidentalis.

Pathogen derived resistance (PDR) is a recent breakthrough where plant hosts can be made to be resistant to viral infections through transformation with conserved viral genes. Given the severity of Tospovirus diseases worldwide (particularly in tomato), PDR has the potential to garner large yield returns where pathogen populations have overcome the established resistance. Tomato breeding lines FLA7804, FLA8044, and the research line MP1 were used in transformation experiments with potions of the Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) N-gene, and two other chimerical viral nucleocapsid gene constructs from, Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV), and Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV). We conducted 19 independent transformations consisting of 300 to 700 14-day old whole cotyledons each for a total number of approximately 9,000 potentially transformed explants. Of those, approximately 6,300 explants failed to produce regenerants, 2,419 explants underwent abnormal development on elongation media, 187 failed to root, and 215 plants to be characterized genetically. Of the 215 plants, 9 were from FLA 7804, 96 from FLA 8044, and 110 from MP1. Both PCR and Southern blot hybridization analysis later confirmed that none of the 215 plants were transgenic. Opposite to tomato, we were able to transform Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype wassilewskija (Ws) via floral dip with the above listed constructs demonstrating that constructs were not deleterious within a plant once fully introgressed. Sixteen independent transformants in the T0 generation resulted from 19,000 germinated seed from three dipped plants resulting in a total transformation rate of 0.08%. Of the 1,000 T1 seed germinated on kanamycin media from each of the 16 putative Arabidopsis plants transformed with the construct containing elements of the N-gene from all three of the aforementioned tospoviruses, four populations exhibited simple Mendelian inheritance of the transgene. DNA walking analysis yielded amplification of the unknown region outside the nptII region of the insert for three of the four remaining transformants, which was subsequently sequenced and mapped to chromosomes 1, 3, and 4. There were 25 T1 individuals selected from each population and transferred to soil for DNA extraction and zygosity determination. Homozygous T2 seed was collected for future resistance studies.

The domesticated tomato Solanum lycopersicum (L.), formerly known as Lycopersicon esculentum is a genetically well-studied crop species with high-density linkage and molecular maps based on crosses done between cultivated tomato and its distant related wild species. Wild tomato species harbor a wealth of resistance to many pathogens that have been introgressed into domesticated tomato for genetic control of diseases and pests and for improvement of many agronomic traits. The wild tomato S. peruvianum (L.) is the source of the Sw-5 gene, characterized and mapped to chromosome 9 of the tomato genome and introgressed into elite tomato germplasm, providing resistance to the tospovirus Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). TSWV has been reported to be a major problem for tomato growers in many parts of the world, which in some cases, has resulted in tomato fields having been abandoned for some time. Additionally, there are reports that new races of TSWV have evolved that overcome Sw-5. TSWV replicates in both, plant cells and in the alimentary canal cells of thrips and then transmitted to plants by this insect acting as a vector. Both, TSWV and thrips have co-evolved to infest and infect more than 1090 plants species in over 100 families, thrips becoming resistant to pesticides and easily escaping by hiding deep in plant parts. World trade has disseminated thrips all over the world and environmental pressures have forced TSWV to recombine its RNA to overcome new resistance.

Master of Science / Department of Entomology / David C. Margolies / James R. Nechols / A two-year greenhouse experiment was conducted to compare the relative effectiveness of biological control versus chemical control for western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, as a means of reducing the spread of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) on tomatoes. To compare efficacy of different thrips management tactics for reducing TSWV incidence, tomatoes were subjected to one of three treatments: 1) biological control based on weekly releases of the predatory mite, Amblyseius cucumeris, at a commercially-recommended rate, 2) a single chemical treatment with Conserve®, a spinosad formulation, or 3) no treatment. TSWV was introduced into the greenhouse either by starting with 20% of the crop already infected and releasing non-viruliferous thrips, or by making a single release of viruliferous thrips. Analyses were done among thrips management tactics for each virus introduction method to examine the cumulative number of weeks plants were infected, the weekly proportion of infected plants, and total marketable yield. The effects of different virus introduction methods were also compared. A comparison of virus introduction methods showed that, among all plants, the average number of weeks they were infected by TSWV was significantly lower when virus was introduced through infected plants than by infected thrips. In addition, when virus was introduced by infected thrips, a significantly greater proportion of plants were infected in any given week than when virus was introduced on infected plants. Finally, crop yields were significantly lower when virus was introduced via infected thrips than on infected plants. Among thrips management methods, plants were infected for significantly less time, and the proportion infected was lower in any given week, when biological or chemical control was applied compared to no thrips management. Tomato yields were not affected by thrips management tactic. There was no significant difference between biological and chemical control in the length of time that plants showed symptoms. However, the proportion of infected plants was marginally greater with biological control in weeks 4 and 5 than with chemical control; differences were not significant thereafter. My findings suggest that inundative releases of biological control may provide as adequate a level of protection from TSWV as chemical control in commercial greenhouse tomato crops.

O Zucchini lethal chlorosis virus (ZLCV) é uma espécie do gênero Tospovirus, transmitido por tripes, que infecta diversas espécies da família Cucurbitaceae. Já foi constatado em diversos estados brasileiros e sua incidência tem aumentado significativamente nos últimos anos em algumas regiões. Por se tratar de uma virose em potencial para as cucurbitáceas, pouco se conhece sobre os danos causados e a reação das diferentes espécies de cucurbitáceas à infecção em campo. Esse trabalho teve por objetivos: estudar a eficiência da RT-PCR para a detecção rápida e especifica do ZLCV em cucurbitáceas; avaliar os danos causados pelo ZLCV em abobrinha de moita em campo e a reação de sete espécies/variedades de cucurbitáceas à infecção natural A detecção do ZLCV por RT-PCR foi estudada utilizando um par de oligonucleotídeos iniciadores, desenhados com base na seqüência do S-RNA do ZLCV (AF067069). Quatro espécies de tospovírus (TSWV, TCSV, GRSV e CSNV) e outros vírus que infectam cucurbitáceas (PRSV-W-1, PRSV-W-C, ZYMV-M, ZYMV-Atibaia e CMV) foram incluídos no teste. Na reação de RT-PCR foi obtido um fragmento de aproximadamente 350 pb, amplificado somente a partir de RNA total extraído de planta infectada com o ZLCV. A seqüência obtida desse fragmento apresentou 98,2 % de identidade com a seqüência de nucleotídeos do S-RNA do ZLCV depositada no GenBank. Os danos causados pelo ZLCV em abobrinha de moita 'Caserta' foram avaliados em campo na ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba-SP, onde esse vírus é freqüente. As plantas foram monitoradas semanalmente quanto à infecção pelo ZLCV por meio dos sintomas e por PTA-ELISA. As plantas foram agrupadas em função da época de aparecimento dos sintomas do ZLCV, avaliando a produção de frutos comerciais (FC) e não comerciais (FNC) de cada grupo e comparando com a de plantas que permaneceram sem sintomas até o final do experimento. As plantas que apresentaram sintomas até os 23 dias após a emergência (DAE) não produziram qualquer tipo de frutos. FC foram colhidos de plantas que apresentaram sintomas a partir dos 42 DAE. Mesmo assim, houve redução de 78,5 % na produção de FC. Plantas que mostraram sintomas por ocasião da última colheita (55 DAE) apresentaram redução na produção de FC de 9,6 %. A infecção com o ZLCV até o início da frutificação inviabiliza a produção de FC de abobrinha de moita 'Caserta'. A reação de sete espécies/variedades de cucurbitáceas à infecção com o ZLCV foi avaliada em campo, por meio da infecção natural e em casa de vegetação, onde as plantas foram duplamente inoculadas mecanicamente com o ZLCV no estádio cotiledonar. A avaliação foi feita com base no monitoramento dos sintomas e por PTA-ELISA. A abobrinha de moita 'Caserta' e a abóbora híbrida 'Takaiama' apresentaram alta suscetibilidade ao ZLCV. O pepino 'Safira' apresentou baixa infecção em campo e intermediária em casa de vegetação. Enquanto que a melancia 'Crimson Sweet', o maxixe do Norte, a abóbora rasteira 'Menina Brasileira' e a moranga 'Alice' apresentaram valores menores de infecção. A moranga 'Exposição' foi altamente resistente, pois não foi infectada nos ensaios em campo e em casa de vegetação. / Zucchini lethal chlorosis virus is a specie of the Genus Tospovirus, transmitted by thrips (Frankliniella zucchini), which infects some species of the family Cucurbitaceae. The occurrence of this Tospovirus has already been reported for several Brazilian states and its incidence in cucurbit crops has increased in the last years in some regions. Considering the importance of this Tospovirus for cucurbit crops, very little is known about the damage caused by this virus and the reaction of the different species of cucurbits to infection. This work aimed: to study the efficiency of the RT-PCR for the fast and specific detection of ZLCV, to evaluate the damage caused by this virus on zucchini squash under field condition and the reaction of seven species/varieties of cucurbits to infection with this Tospovirus. The detection of ZLCV by RT-PCR was studied using a pair of primers designed based on the nucleotide sequence of the SRNA of ZLCV (AF067069). Four other Tospovirus species (TSWV, TCSV, GRSV and CSNV) and other virus that infect cucurbits (mild strain PRSV-W-1, wild strain PRSV-WC, mild strain ZYMV-M, wild strain ZYMV-Atibaia and CMV) were included in this test. The RT-PCR reaction generated a fragment of approximately 350 bp, only amplified from total RNA extracted from plant infected with ZLCV. The sequence of this fragment presented 98.2 % identity with the corresponding nucleotide sequence of the S-RNA of ZLCV deposited in the GenBank. The damage caused by ZLCV on zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo cv. Caserta) was evaluated under field condition. Zucchini squash plants were weekly monitored for the presence of characteristic symptoms induced by ZLCV and PTA-ELISA for virus indexing. Plants were grouped based on the time the symptoms were first seen. Fruits harvested from each plant within each group were classified on marketable (M) and non-marketable (NM) based on the phenotype. Plants that did not show symptoms by the end of the crop were considered still healthy and their yield was used as control. Zucchini squash plants that showed symptoms of ZLCV infection up to 23 days after emergency (DAE) did not yield any fruit. Marketable fruits were first harvested only from plants that showed symptoms 42 DAE. However, the yield of marketable fruits was reduced by 78.5 %, as compared to that from asymptomatic plants. Plants that showed symptoms 55 DAE showed a reduction on the yield of marketable fruit of 9.6%. The reaction of seven species/varieties of cucurbits to infection with ZLCV was evaluated under field and greenhouse conditions. In the field experiment, ZLCV infection occurred naturally. In the greenhouse, plants were twice mechanically inoculated with ZLCV at the cotyledonal stage. Evaluations were based on symptoms expression and PTA-ELISA. Zucchini squash 'Caserta' and hybrid squash 'Takaiama' were highly susceptible. The cucumber 'Safira' presented low percentage of infected plants in the field and intermediate in the greenhouse. Watermelon 'Crimson Sweet', northern gherkin, long neck squash 'Menina Brasileira' and winter squash 'Alice' presented lower values of infected plants. Winter squash 'Exposição' was highly resistant to infection under field and greenhouse conditions.

Submitted by Marco Antônio de Ramos Chagas (mchagas@ufv.br) on 2017-04-27T13:57:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 2630530 bytes, checksum: 112de5671b9d3e521f0446f6d6d7237e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-27T13:57:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 2630530 bytes, checksum: 112de5671b9d3e521f0446f6d6d7237e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004-03-31 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Alguns aspectos da interação entre o gene de resistência Sw-5 e os tospovírus, foram analisados neste trabalho. A capacidade de Sw-5 conferir resistência em Nicotiana benthamiana foi avaliada em plantas transformadas com uma construção na qual a ORF e a região 3' do gene estavam sob controle do promotor 35S. As plantas transformadas foram resistentes à infecção por tospovírus. A comparação do espectro da resistência destas plantas com o observado para outras solanáceas , indica que as vias de sinalização e as respostas de defesa ativadas por Sw-5 estão conservadas nesta família, e que o polimorfismo genético nos componentes das vias de transdução de sinais pode resultar em diferentes níveis de resistência. A fim de identificar o gene de avirulência dos tospovírus, os genes N, NSm e NSs , foram expressos isoladamente ou em combinações, por meio do vetor viral PVX, em plantas com Sw-5. A expressão destes genes não foi capaz de desencadear a resposta de hipersensibilidade e tampouco interferiu na infecção da planta por PVX. Portanto, outro componente dos tospovírus deve ser responsável pelo desencadeamento da reação de resistência. Independentemente da presença do gene Sw-5, a expressão do gene NSs por meio do PVX , agravou os sintomas provocados por este vírus em algumas solanáceas, o que pode ter relação com a capacidade desta proteína de suprimir silenciamento gênico. Em plantas com Sw-5, a co-expressão da região 5' deste gene por meio do vetor PVX , favoreceu a infecção sistêmica por tospovírus. Uma vez que o efeito foi observado tanto para expressão senso quanto anti-senso, a redução dos níveis de mRNA de Sw-5 provocada por silenciamento gênico , poderia ser a causa desta interferência na resistência, embora a análise de Northern blot não tenha demonstrado tal redução. Uma seqüência homóloga a Sw-5 contendo uma ORF sem deleções ou interrupções prematuras foi clonada a partir do acesso LA371-20 de Lycopersicon peruvianum. Análises moleculares demonstraram que esta seqüência é originada do loco Sw-5 ou de região próxima a este e que segrega com a resistência a tospovírus. A capacidade deste e de outros três homólogos oriundos de distintos acessos de tomateiro de conferir resistência a tospovírus, foi avaliada em plantas transgênicas de tomateiro e tabaco. As plantas transformadas foram suscetíveis ao vírus. A não-funcionalidade destes homólogos pode ser devido à estrutura das construções utilizadas na transformação. Alternativamente, outros homólogos presentes nestes acessos de tomateiro podem ser os responsáveis pela resistência. / In this work some aspects of the tospovirus - Sw-5 interaction was analyzed. The capacity of the Sw-5 to confer resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana was evaluated in transgenic plants transformed with Sw-5 ORF containing its own 3 ́ UTR region under 35S promoter control. Transgenic plants were resistant to tospovirus infection. Comparisons of the resistance spectrum with other members of the Solanaceae suggest that the signal transduction pathways and resistance responses triggered by Sw-5 are conservated in solanaceae and that the genetic polymorphism in the signal transduction components may result in different resistance levels. The N, NSm and NSs genes isolated or in combination were expressed by PVX vector in plants harboring Sw-5 in order to detect the tospovirus avirulence gene. These genes were not able to trigger the hypersensitive response and to affect PVX infection in Sw-5 plants, which suggest that another tospovirus component is the elicitor of the resistance response. Independently of the Sw-5 gene, PVX clones harboring NSs gene induced more severe symptoms in some solanaceae plants. Gene silencing may be the cause of this symptoms. In transgenic plants harboring Sw-5 gene, the co-expression of the 5 ́ region of this gene by PVX favored tospovirus infection. As this effect was observed both for 5 ́ sense and anti- sense constructions it is possible that it has been caused by reduction on mRNA levels by gene silencing, although Northern blot analysis did not agree with this hypothesis. An Sw-5 homolog was cloned from LA371-20 accession. This homolog is localized in or near of Sw-5 locus and segregated with tospovirus resistance. The capacity of this and other three homologs originated from others accessions to confer tospovirus resistance was evaluated in tobacco and tomato transgenic plants. All the transformants were susceptible to the virus. Other homologs presents in the different accessions evaluated may be responsible for the resistance, although problems in the structure of the constructions can not be discarded. / Tese importada do Alexandria