Characterization of the Tuta absoluta virome reveals higher viral diversity in field populations

Abstract

A significant number of insect-specific viruses (ISVs) have been discovered in agriculturally important insect pests, facilitated by high-throughput sequencing (HTS). Despite its global impact on tomato crops, the RNA virome of the South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta, remains uncharacterized. In this study, we utilized meta-transcriptomics and bioinformatic approaches to discover the RNA virome of T. absoluta across worldwide populations. We identified ten novel ISVs, classified into six groups: Nidovirales, Bunyavirales, Mononegavirales, Virgaviridae, Iflaviridae, Nodaviridae, Solemoviridae, and Phasmaviridae. Notably, no core virus was consistently present across the studied populations, and field-collected samples revealed a greater diversity of ISVs compared to those from laboratory samples. In addition, we detected plant-infecting viruses and mycoviruses associated with the pest. This study represents the first description of the RNA virome associated with T. absoluta, providing valuable insights into its biological and ecological interactions. It also lay the foundation for future studies aimed to clarify the biological roles of ISVs.