Insect and virus transmission research to enhance vertical farming crop protection

Overview

Vertical farming (VF) offers controlled-environment production of fruits and vegetables, but recent evidence suggests crops grown under these conditions may remain vulnerable to insect pests and the viruses they transmit. This research program focuses on the behaviors of sucking-piercing insects such as aphids and whiteflies, their interactions with vegetable crops, and the pathogens they carry. By understanding these relationships, the team aims to identify weak points in pest-pathogen-crop associations that can be targeted with innovative management measures, ultimately improving the design and resilience of vertical farming systems.

Technical specifications

• Feeding behavior analysis: Whiteflies were fed on artificial diets at three pH values (pH 4, 7.4, and 9) and evaluated across 13 feeding variables. No significant differences in feeding behavior were observed across pH treatments.
• Virus transmission findings: Viruliferous whiteflies successfully inoculated virus at pH 7.4 but not at pH 4 or pH 9, suggesting dietary pH influences transmission efficiency.
• Capsid protein studies: Engineered lettuce infectious yellows virus (LIYV) carrying a chimeric lettuce chlorosis virus (LCV)-LIYV capsid protein showed unique antibody recognition and virion binding characteristics within whitefly foreguts.
• Receptor identification: Protein prediction analyses revealed modest similarity between the LCV capsid and specific laminin subunits known to interact with cellular receptors, pointing to potential whitefly receptors involved in virus binding and transmission.
• Future plans: Study whitefly feeding behaviors on VF-optimized vegetable crops and establish a whitefly yeast-2-hybrid library to identify crinivirus receptors.

Technology readiness level

The research is at an early-to-mid stage of development. Feeding behavior and virus transmission assays have been completed under controlled laboratory conditions, and preliminary protein analyses have identified candidate receptor interactions. Future validation requires VF growth-optimized vegetable crops, supplies, and key personnel support to extend findings into VF-relevant settings and advance toward practical pest and pathogen management recommendations.