Abstract
Vector transmission of plant viruses is basically of two types that depend on the virus helper component proteins or the capsid proteins. A number of plant viruses belonging to disparate groups have developed unusual capsid proteins providing for interactions with the vector. Thus, cauliflower mosaic virus, a plant pararetrovirus, employs a virion associated p3 protein, the major capsid protein, and a helper component for the semi-persistent transmission by aphids. Benyviruses encode a capsid protein readthrough domain (CP-RTD) located at one end of the rod-like helical particle, which serves for the virus transmission by soil fungal zoospores. Likewise, the CP-RTD, being a minor component of the luteovirus icosahedral virions, provides for persistent, circulative aphid transmission. Closteroviruses encode several CPs and virion-associated proteins that form the filamentous helical particles and mediate transmission by aphid, whitefly, or mealybug vectors. The variable strategies of transmission and evolutionary ‘inventions’ of the unusual capsid proteins of plant RNA viruses are discussed.
Highlights
Transmission of plant viruses is a complex virus–vector–host interplay tuned in the course of evolution
This process is basically of two types, one specified by the requirement for a virus helper component protein (HC), which serves as an ‘adaptor’ between the virus capsid protein (CP) and a receptor in the vector, and the other by the direct interaction of the assembled CP with a vector receptor [1,2,3]
Benyviruses encode the CP-readthrough domain (RTD) exposed at one end of the rod-like helical particle, which serves for the virus transmission by soil fungal zoospores
Summary
Transmission of plant viruses is a complex virus–vector–host interplay tuned in the course of evolution This process is basically of two types, one specified by the requirement for a virus helper component protein (HC), which serves as an ‘adaptor’ between the virus capsid protein (CP) and a receptor in the vector, and the other by the direct interaction of the assembled CP with a vector receptor [1,2,3]. An insight into the transmission mechanisms of these viruses is of fundamental and of practical interest in view of significant economic losses from diseases such as beet rhizomania [13], cereal yellow dwarf [14,15], beet yellows, and citrus tristeza [16]. Cells 2021, 10, 90 of these viruses is of fundamental and of practical interest in view of signifi of 13 cant economic losses from diseases such as beet rhizomania [13], cereal yellow dwarf [14,15], beet yellows, and citrus tristeza [16]
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