This is one of a series of articles about the 20 research projects for which CONNECTED provided pump-prime funding. A full set of articles about all 20 projects can be found here.
The prevalence of ‘plant-vectored’ insect-pathogenic viruses in Kenya and their potential for bio‐control of plant virus vectors
A project exploring the potential of insect-infecting dicistroviruses to contribute to the control of aphids and the spread of plant viruses
This project follows on from a study which investigated the diversity of crop-infecting viruses in aphids, and in maize and bean plants in Kenya. In that work, in addition to plant viruses, dicistroviruses were frequently detected.
Dicistroviruses are relatively-understudied and yet are known to reside in plants and infect the aphids that feed on them.
This project explores the hypothesis that dicistroviruses are natural biocontrol agents. It examines whether plant-resident viruses could be used for the low-cost, low-impact control of aphids and other vectors.
Countries
- Kenya
- UK
International research collaboration
- BecA-ILRI Hub, Kenya
- University of Cambridge, UK
People
- Josiah Mukutu (PI)
- John Carr
Network members can find further details about those involved in the project by logging in to this site as a member, and using the Member Directory.