Abstract: Geminiviruses are transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci in a persistent, circulative manner. Successful transmission of the virus from host to host requires three crucial steps: virus acquisition, retention and transmission. Many factors are involved in this process, including certain proteins from the vectors (e.g, receptors of the virus), viral proteins and host plant factors. In this article, we reviewed the factors that affect the transmission specificities of geminiviruses by whiteflies as well as direct and indirect interactions between whiteflies and geminiviruses. The transmission efficiency of geminivirus depends on a number of variables, e.g., the species of whiteflies and viruses involved, specific organs or cells of whitefly, whitefly and viral proteins, and hidden players like endosymbionts. The long-term association of the virus with the whiteflies and its host plants renders the virus the potential to alter the characteristics of its vector and host to facilitate its transmission.

Key words: Whitefly, geminivirus, transmission specificity, endosymbionts, host plant