Targeting UDP‐Bta06664 in Bemisia tabaci : A novel strategy to reduce tomato yellow leaf curl virus transmission by impairing insect vector feeding

Abstract The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is an important vector of the devastating tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). The widespread insecticide resistance issues, however, seriously challenge the current practices; novel vector management strategies targeting transmission pathways are urgently needed. In this study, we demonstrate that viral infection upregulates UDP‐Bta06664 , a UDP‐glycosyltransferase (UGT) gene in B. tabaci , resulting in elevated UGT activity. Silencing UDP‐Bta06664 via RNA interference (RNAi) significantly reduced TYLCV acquisition and inoculation efficiency while maintaining vector survival. The electrical penetration graph showed that UDP‐Bta06664 suppression disrupted key phloem‐feeding parameters, significantly delaying and shortening phloem salivation and sustained phloem ingestion. These behavioral alterations explain the observed reductions in virus uptake and delivery, establishing that UDP‐Bta06664 acts as a metabolic facilitator of virus transmission. This study highlights a metabolic–behavioral axis regulating plant virus transmission and identifies a potential molecular target for RNAi‐mediated disease control.