<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>With recently discovered soybean cyst nematode (SCN) viruses, biological control of the nematodes is a theoretical possibility. This study explores the question of what kinds of viruses would make useful biocontrol agents, taking into account evolutionary and population dynamics. An agent-based model, Soybean Cyst Nematode Simulation (SCNSim), was developed to simulate within-host virulence evolution in a virus-nematode-soybean ecosystem. SCNSim was used to predict nematode suppression under a range of viral mutation rates, initial virulences, and release strategies. The simulation model suggested that virus-based biocontrol worked best when the nematodes were inundated with the viruses. Under lower infection prevalence, the viral burden thinned out rapidly due to the limited mobility and high reproductive rate of the SCN. In accordance with the generally accepted trade-off theory, SCNSim predicted the optimal initial virulence for the maximum nematode suppression. Higher initial virulence resulted in shorter lifetime transmission, whereas viruses with lower initial virulence values evolved toward avirulence. SCNSim also indicated that a greater viral mutation rate reinforced the virulence pathotype, suggesting the presence of a virulence threshold necessary to achieve biocontrol against SCN.</p>
</abstract>

With recently discovered soybean cyst nematode (SCN) viruses, biological control of the nematodes is a theoretical possibility. This study explores the question of what kinds of viruses would make useful biocontrol agents, taking into account evolutionary and population dynamics. An agent-based model, Soybean Cyst Nematode Simulation (SCNSim), was developed to simulate within-host virulence evolution in a virus-nematode-soybean ecosystem. SCNSim was used to predict nematode suppression under a range of viral mutation rates, initial virulences, and release strategies. The simulation model suggested that virus-based biocontrol worked best when the nematodes were inundated with the viruses. Under lower infection prevalence, the viral burden thinned out rapidly due to the limited mobility and high reproductive rate of the SCN. In accordance with the generally accepted trade-off theory, SCNSim predicted the optimal initial virulence for the maximum nematode suppression. Higher initial virulence resulted in shorter lifetime transmission, whereas viruses with lower initial virulence values evolved toward avirulence. SCNSim also indicated that a greater viral mutation rate reinforced the virulence pathotype, suggesting the presence of a virulence threshold necessary to achieve biocontrol against SCN.

An Agent-Based Metapopulation Model Simulating Virus-Based Biocontrol of <italic>Heterodera Glycines</italic>


Journal of Nematology

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An Agent-Based Metapopulation Model Simulating Virus-Based Biocontrol of 


running-head

An Agent-Based Metapopulation Model Simulating Virus-Based Biocontrol of Heterodera Glycines

An Agent-Based Metapopulation Model Simulating Virus-Based Biocontrol of

With recently discovered soybean cyst nematode (SCN) viruses, biological control of the nematodes is a theoretical possibility. This study explores the...

An Agent-Based Metapopulation Model Simulating Virus-Based Biocontrol of Heterodera Glycines

Publicado en línea: 03 jun 2018

Páginas: 79 - 90

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2018-002

Palabras clave
Biological control, host-parasitic relationship, numerical model, soybean cyst nematode, virulence evolution

© 2018 Safyre Anderson et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

An Agent-Based Metapopulation Model Simulating Virus-Based Biocontrol of Heterodera Glycines

Publicado en línea: 03 jun 2018

Páginas: 79 - 90

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2018-002

Palabras claveBiological control, host-parasitic relationship, numerical model, soybean cyst nematode, virulence evolution

© 2018 Safyre Anderson et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Palabras clave
Biological control, host-parasitic relationship, numerical model, soybean cyst nematode, virulence evolution