The effects of cucumber mosaic virus on plant-insect interactions between tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum and the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae

Plant viruses may affect insect-plant interaction by altering plant phenotypes such as smell and host quality. The resulting changes in vector behavior and population dynamics influence virus transmission. This phenomenon was examined in tobacco plants, Nicotiana tabacum, infected Cucumber Mosiac Virus, a generalist plant virus transmitted non-persistently by several aphid species, including Myzus persicae. The growth and volatile organic compound emissions from infected and uninfected tobacco plants were compared. The attraction and growth of Myzus persicae on infected and uninfected plants were compared.