Date Received: 24-11-2025 / Date Accepted: 01-02-2026 / Date Published: 28-02-2026
This study aimed to identify the cryptic species of the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) infesting cassava in Vietnam and to characterize its transmission of Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus (SLCMV) (Begomovirus stanleyi). The study employed mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene sequence analysis of 47 whitefly samples collected from cassava plants in 10 provinces, together with experiments assessing the virus transmission ability of whiteflies. The results showed that all whitefly samples belonged to the cryptic species AsiaII-1. The AsiaII-1 population on cassava in Vietnam and across Asia, mainly in Southeast Asia, exhibited a small effective population size, low genetic diversity, and dominance of haplotype H2. The minimum acquisition access period and inoculation access period for SLCMV were 1 hour and 15 minutes, respectively. Female whiteflies transmitted the virus more efficiently than males; the virus was transmittable through mating between adult whiteflies, whereas whitefly age had no clear effect on transmission efficiency. In conclusion, this study provides a scientific basis for the development of effective management strategies for cassava mosaic disease in Vietnam.
