The Bemisia tabaci is a polyphagous insect and a successful vector of plant viruses. B. tabaci is a species complex and in Brazil native species from the New World (NW) group, as well as the invasive species, Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and Mediterranean (MED) were reported. For better understanding the distribution of the different species four years after the Mediterranean species invasion in Brazil, whiteflies were collected from 237 locations throughout the country between the years of 2013 and 2017, species were identified and the facultative endosymbionts detected. The survey revealed that MEAM1 was the prevalent species found on major crops across Brazil. It is the only species present in North, Northwestern and Central Brazil and was associated with virus-infected plants. MED was found in five States from Southeast to South regions, infesting mainly ornamental plants and was not associated with virus-infected plants. The prevalent endosymbionts identified in MEAM1 were Hamiltonella and Rickettsia; and the mtCOI analysis revealed low genetic diversity for MEAM1. In contrast, several different endosymbionts were identified in MED including Hamiltonella, Rickettsia, Wolbachia and Arsenophonus; and two distinct genetic groups were found based on the mtCOI analysis. Monitoring the distribution of the whiteflies species in Brazil is essential for proper management of this pest.

Soilborne wheat mosaic disease ( SBWMD ), originally attributed to infections by Soilborne wheat mosaic virus ( SBWMV ) and Wheat spindle streak mosaic virus ( WSSMV ), is one of the most frequent virus diseases and causes economic losses in wheat in southern Brazil. This study aimed to characterize molecularly the viral species associated with wheat plants showing mosaic symptoms in Brazil. Wheat leaves and stems displaying mosaic symptoms were collected from different wheat cultivars in Passo Fundo municipality, Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil. Double‐stranded RNA was extracted and submitted to cDNA library synthesis and next‐generation sequencing. No sequences of SBWMV and WSSMV were detected but the complete genome sequence of a putative new member of the family Benyviridae was determined, for which the name wheat stripe mosaic virus (Wh SMV ) is proposed. Wh SMV has a bipartite genome with RNA 1 and RNA 2 organization similar to that of viruses belonging to Benyviridae . Wh SMV RNA 1 has a single open reading frame ( ORF ) encoding a polyprotein with putative viral replicase function. Wh SMV RNA 2 has six ORF s encoding the coat protein, the major protein (read‐through), triple gene block movement proteins ( TGB 1, 2 and 3) and ORF 6 (hypothetical protein). In addition to the genomic organization and nucleotide and amino acid sequence identities, phylogenetic analyses also corroborated that Wh SMV is a virus species of the Benyviridae . However, isolates of Wh SMV formed a clade distinct from members of the genus Benyvirus . It was also demonstrated that the plasmodiophorid Polymyxa graminis is associated with wheat roots showing SBWMD symptoms and infected by Wh SMV .

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the main cereal food of humans and animals in Brazil. In 2020 and 2021, a severe infestation of corn leafhoppers (Dalbulus maidis; Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) was observed in Sa...