A bug’s bite: UNL studying viruses transmitted to Nebraska crops and gardens

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Bugs are waging war on Nebraska crops by transmitting viruses. 

UNL’s Department of Entomology is looking into the insects carrying viruses to crops here in the state.

With many unknowns currently within this topic of research, the faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is hiring someone to focus on vector insects and their relationship to crop-killing virus strains. Vector insects are bugs that carry disease and damage crops by eating their leaves. They are known to transmit viruses to crops across the country.

There’s one virus that is hitting wheat fields particularly hard in Nebraska, according to UNL.

Wheat curl mites transmit the disease to the wheat, causing them to turn yellow and die. 

But a lot of questions remain in this field of study. The Entomology Department is hoping to lead this research to study the harmful effects on Nebraska’s crops.

“That mite virus complex has a very significant impact and has had significant impact this year,” professor Gary Hein said. “In some years, it can be very extensive. Primarily, most of the wheat is grown in the western third of the state, so that’s where a majority of the problems are.”

Currently, there is a shortage of people working in this field in the Midwest. 

And crops are not the only concern. Plants within your backyard are at risk.

“We’re hoping that getting someone started in this role can help us in our cropping systems but also can start spilling over into our gardens, like I have my garden problems at home,” said John Ruberson, head of the Entomology Department. “So trying to understand better those relationships can help the home gardener as well as the farmers. That helps us globally, regionally and locally.”

Researchers say corn, soybeans and sugar beets are being affected by viruses, too. Right now, research shows that having at least two viruses acting on the same plant is that much more deadly.

Some of the next steps involve going down to the molecular level, so one of the candidates for the new job presented work Tuesday dealing with potato and melon fields in California and Idaho.

“Wheat curl mite-transmitted viruses are unknown,” said the candidate, Shaonpius Mondal. “With my expertise, that could be explored in such a way that the virus could be managed. A lot of different experiments could be done by myself, and also with the collaboration of existing faculty here.”

Experts say more needs to be known about the relationship among the vector bug, the pathogen being carried and the plant itself.

Managing the spread of these viruses among our crops is the future.

The position is not one that is needed for the fall semester, but interviews will finish up later this week.

The decision could take several months to be finalized, but faculty says the sooner the better to start work on this problem.