Invasive Weeds-Aphids-Crops Interactions-Invasive Weeds as Virus Reservoir

Dear Colleagues,

Invasive weeds represent a serious threat to world crop production as global trade expands and climatic conditions shift. An important factor worthy of consideration in relation to this topic is the effect of these weed species on local sap-feeding pest insect populations, especially aphids. Another factor is that invasive weeds acting as virus reservoirs pose a serious threat via local aphid species in terms of virus distribution and transmission to crop plants. In this light, it has recently been suggested that the losses to crop yield caused by invasive weeds and their infesting aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) may increase substantially (by around 25%) over the next few years.

From this standpoint, several virus-vectoring insects (in special aphids) whose host range naturally includes local plant species, mainly from the same family, have become even more important, inhabiting and reproducing on invasive weeds. Direct and indirect interactions between weeds and crop plants in close proximity can influence each other’s susceptibility (‘associational susceptibility’) and affect their herbivore abundances. However, aspects on natural habitat diversity (i.e., diverse habitat surrounded by natural landscape mosaics) and how management systems (low vs. high chemical input) influence associational susceptibility or resistance have rarely been included in such analyses.

In accordance with these various factors, the aim of the present Special Issue is to publish forthcoming scientific papers in the following issues:

1) Spatial ecology and sup-feeding insects’ relations of the most important invasive weeds under differently managed agricultural systems; 2) empirical studies of crop plants virus infections through invasive weed–insect–crop plant interactions; 3) empirical studies on plant viruses using high-throughput small RNA sequencing in invasive weeds and surrounding crops under different management regimes; 4) empirical studies on plant virus management through sup-feeding insect control, especially including biological pest control methods.

Prof. Dr. Balog Adalbert
Guest Editor

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• invasive weeds
• virus reservoirs
• sup feeding insects
• crop plants virus infection
• small RNA virus diagnostics
• biological control
• crop management