A Review on Ecology of Interactions in Soybean Vein Necrosis Orthotospovirus (SVNV): Plants, Vectors, Virus Dispersal and Management Perspectives

Soybean vein necrosis orthotospovirus (SVNV, Genus: Orthotospovirus, Family: Tospoviridae, Order Bunyavirales) is a vector and seed transmitted virus that infects soybean in different countries around the world. The purpose of this review paper was to provide information about SVNV, its geographic dispersal, vectors, disease transmission mode, alternative host plants, diagnostic tools and management. SVNV is a negative-sense single-stranded RNA virus reported in all soybean growing states in the USA, Egypt and Canada. SVNV can replicate in plants belonging to six different families, including the Leguminosae member mung bean, which is a major component of the diet of poor people of Asia. The most efficient and abundant SVNV vector species is Neohydatothrips variabilis (Beach.) (Sericothripinae: Thripidae). Five other insect species have the potential to transmit the virus, but their rate of transmission is very low. In addition to leaf necrosis, this virus can decrease seed oil content by 0.1% that may lead to a decrease in quality of SVNV infected seed in oilseed markets. In fact, in the infected seeds the quantity of the undesirable linolenic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid is increased. Broad presence of SVNV in all soybean growing regions points to the need to manage vector and virus. However, research is needed to determine various management options for the virus and vector including breeding for genetic resistance.