Criniviruses at the Crossroads of Virology and Agroecology: Molecular Dialogues, Vector Synchrony, and Translational Control Strategies in Crop Systems

Abstract

Criniviruses, members of the Closteroviridae, illustrate how molecular evolution, vector ecology, and climatic variability converge to determine plant virus emergence and persistence. Although individual genomic and transmission traits are well studied, their cross-scale integration has remained limited. Recent advances in comparative genomics and high-throughput sequencing have revealed that bipartite genome reassortment, recombination hotspots, and quasi-species microdiversity provide the genetic flexibility that sustains crinivirus adaptation across hosts. Parallel discoveries in vector biology show that endosymbiont-mediated modulation within Bemisia tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum strongly influences viral retention and transmissibility. Coupled with climate-driven shifts in vector distribution and the microclimatic stability of protected cultivation systems, these processes collectively explain current expansion patterns of crinivirus diseases. Integrating molecular, ecological, and spatial perspectives offers a basis for predictive risk modeling and climate-responsive management, supported by advances in field-deployable diagnostics, precision breeding, and endosymbiont-targeted control strategies. Together, these developments frame a systems-level understanding of crinivirus epidemiology that aligns plant virology with adaptive, sustainable crop protection.