Abstract: 【Aim】 This study aims to analyze and compare the differences in the transmission of Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) on Capsicum annuum plants between Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 and MED adults, and to investigate the insect-virus-host plant interaction so as to provide reference for the control of ToCV on C. annuum in the field. 【Methods】 The ToCV acquisition and transmission of B. tabaci MEAM1 and MED adults on C. annuum plants were compared by using B. tabaci MEAM1 and MED adults and cDNA infectious clones of ToCV, respectively. The feeding preference of B. tabaci MEAM1 and MED adults to healthy and ToCV-infected C. annuum plants was compared. 【Results】 When inoculated on ToCV-infected C. annuum plants for 96 h, the virus accumulation in B. tabaci MEAM1 and MED adults gradually increased, faster acquisition and higher accumulation of ToCV in MED adults than in MEAM1 adults were found, and the level of virus acquisition of MED adults was 1.74 times as high as that of MEAM1 adults. The level of virus transmission of MED adults on C. annuum plants was 10 times as high as that of MEAM1 adults, and the transmission rate of MED adults was 29% higher than that of MEAM1 adults. MEAM1 and MED adults showed similar feeding preference to healthy and ToCV-infected C. annuum plants, with an obvious feeding preference to ToCV-infected C. annuum plants. 【Conclusion】 The ability of B. tabaci MED adults to acquire and transmit ToCV on C. annuum plants is higher than that of B. tabaci MEAM1 adults, which is an important reason for the rapid spread of ToCV in China.

Key words: Bemisia tabaci; Tomato chlorosis virus; Capsicum annuum, virus transmission, virus acquisition