TYLCV Infection Promotes Biological Fitness of Bemisia tabaci MED (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

ABSTRACT Investigating the intricate interactions between plant viruses and insect vectors is crucial for pest management. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) (Gennadius), as a primary vector of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), exhibits a symbiotic relationship with TYLCV that remains incompletely understood. Using the ‘two sex‐age stage’ life table method, we investigated the effects of TYLCV infection on the biological performance of B. tabaci MED. Our results demonstrate that both direct TYLCV carriage and feeding on infected plants enhance biological fitness, as evidenced by prolonged female longevity, higher survival rates, extended oviposition periods and increased fecundity. Furthermore, net reproductive rate ( R 0 ) calculations confirmed these reproductive advantages. Collectively, these findings indicate that TYLCV infection improves the overall biological fitness of B. tabaci MED primarily by enhancing female longevity and fecundity through a combination of direct viral manipulation and indirect plant‐mediated effects. Elucidating the mutually beneficial interspecific relationship therefore holds significant value for improving prevention and control strategies against TYLCV and B. tabaci MED in agricultural systems.