Research on arthropod vectors of plant pathogens in a post-Subsection Cc world: current status and future prospects

Abstract

Abstract The study of herbivorous arthropod vectors of plant pathogens has been a subdiscipline within entomology for more than a century. It was recognized as a unique field with the establishment of a Subsection (Cc) in the Entomological Society of America (ESA) from 1953 through 2007. During that period, work in the field expanded from an initial emphasis on management of vector-borne plant pathogens to include biology of the pathosystems. Since 2007, when ESA reorganized the subsections within the society, work on herbivorous vectors of plant pathogens has continued to grow. This article briefly summarizes the work in this field prior to, during, and after the ESA Subsection Cc era. We identify and describe 4 research areas that have characterized the field since 2007: Molecular mechanisms of vector–plant interactions, managing vectors and pathogen transmission in agriculture, illuminating the ecology of vectors and pathogens outside of crops, and pathogen manipulation of host phenotypes and vector behavior. We then identify 10 frontiers and prospects for the field in the coming years that build on these 4 research areas, ranging from molecular and cellular aspects to ramifications for managed and natural ecosystems. We also examine trends in funding and professional opportunities for scientists working on herbivorous vectors and pathogens. Finally, we renew the call for greater integration of work addressing vector-borne plant, animal, and human pathogens due to fundamental similarities in their biology and importance for human well-being within an expanded understanding of the “One Health” paradigm, which currently emphasizes human and animal health.