Bemisia tabaci-tomato gene expression
Bemisia tabaci is a cryptic species complex with at least 34 distinct genetic groups and 392 haplotypes. The most widespread and invasive B. tabaci species are Mediterranean (MED) and Middle-East-Asia Minor1 (MEAM1). This polyphagous insect causes large agroeconomic damages through feeding from the phloem, excretion of honeydew and transmitting over 200 plant viruses. One of the open filed crops that is infested by Bemisa tabaci is Solanum lycopersicum (tomato). To get an insight into the change of gene expression in Solanum lycopersicum (Moneymaker) we placed 15 female B. tabaci (MEAM1) on leaflet 2 and 3 of the 5th leave from the top at 0 days post infection (dpi0 ) in a clipcage. For the control we only used a clipcage at the same positions. We harvested the leaflets at dpi2, dpi5 and dpi10 after removing the B. tabaci females. RNA was isolated from pooled leaflets (per plant leaflet 2 and 3 were pooled) per harvesting moment using Qiagen RNeasy Plant mini kit.