Effects of elevated CO2 on the population dynamics of vectors thatinfluence the spread of plant viruses

Author of the article:HUANG Li-Chao1, 2** TAN Xiao-Ling1, 3 GE Feng1***

Author's Workplace：1. State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; 2. Tourism and Air Service College, Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang 550025, China; 3. Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China

Key Words：elevated CO2, cascading effect, host plant resistance, population of insect vectors, plant virus

Abstract：Elevation in atmospheric CO2 concentration is predicted to impact both current and future ecosystems and consequently is now a subject of great scientific interest. Plant viral diseases are a limiting factor on agricultural productivity. The “CO2-plant-insect vector-virus” system is complex, and there have been many studies focused on the impacts of increased atmospheric CO2 on plant or “plant-herbivore” interactions, and on the spread of plant viruses. This paper reviews the impact that higher CO2 concentrations may have on the incidence and spread of plant viruses, its potential effects on plant and virus/plant interactions, and on insect vectors. Changes in host plants (gene expression profiles, physiology and biochemistry, nutrition and growth) that might result from elevated CO2 could affect the “plants-herbivore arthropods-plant virus” complex via cascading effects, but the direct effect of elevated CO2 levels on insect vectors and viruses is predicted to be very small.