Transcriptomes of the interaction between cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and two whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) populations with different performance levels

In our previous study, we found that a Cardinium-infected (C+) population of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Q has weaker competitive ability and lower fitness than a Cardinium-uninfected population (C-). However, the mechanism underlying the performance differences between the two whitefly populations remains poorly understood. We speculate that these differences may be associated with differential host plant-whitefly interactions. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the genome-wide transcriptomes of the partners in the host plant-whitefly interaction, the cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. and the two whitefly populations, using Illumina sequencing technology.