Control of plant pathogenic viruses through interference with insect transmission

Insects are the most frequent vectors of plant pathogenic viruses, helping them to spread from infected host plants to other plants where they initiate new cycles of infection. The virus transmission process is highly regulated with intervention of specific features of the three players: the virus, the insect vector, and the host. In most cases, the analysis of the molecular mechanisms governing transmission reveals the existence of specific relationships between viruses and their insect vectors. Therefore, a better understanding of the vector-mediated virus transmission processes might lead to identifying key elements, which could be specifically targeted in novel strategies aiming to interfere with the process. The present chapter updates the information provided in a previous version, reviewing current knowledge and ongoing research on this line of work, including the possibility of altering gene expression in insect vectors as a way to impede the dissemination of plant viruses.