Begomovirus detection in the whitefly Bemisia spp. on eggplant Solanum melongena L. leaves

Abstract

Begomovirus infects various species of the Solanaceae family and reduces crop productivity. It is important to note that Bemisia tabaci is a vector that contributes to increasing infection. Therefore, this study aims to identify and modify DNA extraction methods, as well as detect the presence of Begomovirus in whitefly and eggplants ( Solanum melongena L .) plantations. S. melongena leaves showing infection symptoms were collected from eggplant cultivation in Rejodani, Sleman, D.I. Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The identification of whitefly collected from the leaves was performed microscopically, DNA extraction was carried out using lysis and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) buffer, while the presence of Begomovirus was detected using polymerase chain reaction. Based on the results, the whitefly is a part of Bemisia genus, the DNA quantification showed that Bemisia spp. has low purity, while S. melongena is slightly purer. However, Begomovirus presence was detected in both sample since the DNA band appeared in ±580 bp. It was concluded that DNA from Begomovirus in the whitefly Bemisia spp. and S. melongena can be extracted using lysis and CTAB buffer, respectively. It was also shown that Begomovirus infects S. melongena similarly to its vector, Bemisia spp., in Rejodani eggplant plantations.