Urbanization Increases Infection Prevalence of a Plant Virus

Research conducted by Queen's University in Canada has investigated the impact of urbanization on the prevalence of turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) infection in the invasive mustard plant Hesperis matronalis. The study surveyed 132 populations of the plant along an urban-rural gradient in Ontario, Canada, and found that the probability of population infection increased with human activity, even after controlling for the positive effect of population size. The study also found that larger populations in areas of high human activity were more likely to remain infected across generations, and that the effect of human activity on infection frequency within populations was less consistent.

Key Takeaways:

• The probability of population infection increased with human activity, with 39% of populations including at least one infected individual and 10% of individuals being infected within these populations.
• Larger populations in areas of high human activity were more likely to remain infected across generations.
• The effect of human activity on infection frequency within populations was less consistent, with within-population probability of individuals being infected increasing with local density of conspecifics.
• The study suggests that urbanization can influence the prevalence of infection by an economically important plant virus.
• The research was conducted by Kaitlyn Dawson at Queen's University, in collaboration with Katherine G. Maunder, Marlene M. Kraml, Chloe Dean-Moore, Lauryn Joslin, Christopher G. Eckert, and Lucas Eckert.
• The study was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
• The research was published in the International Journal of Plant Sciences in 2025.

Statistics:

• 132 populations of the invasive mustard plant Hesperis matronalis were surveyed across an urban-rural gradient in Ontario, Canada.
• 39% of populations included at least one infected individual.
• 10% of individuals in infected populations were infected with TuMV.
• Population size had a significant positive effect on the probability of population infection.
• Local density of conspecifics had a significant positive effect on the probability of individuals being infected within populations.

Sources:

• Dawson, K. et al. (2025). Viral-induced Flower Color Breaking Reveals That Turnip Mosaic Virus Infection Prevalence Increases With Urbanization In the Invasive Mustard hesperis Matronalis. International Journal of Plant Sciences. Intl. J. Plant Sci., Chicago IL 60637-2954.
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).