Abstract
A continuing challenge to crop production worldwide is the spectrum of diseases caused by geminiviruses, a large family of small circular single-stranded DNA viruses. These viruses are quite diverse, some containing mono- or bi-partite genomes, and infecting a multitude of monocot and dicot plants. There are currently many efforts directed at controlling these diseases. While some of the methods include controlling the insect vector using pesticides or genetic insect resistance (Rodríguez-López et al., 2011), this review will focus on the generation of plants that are resistant to geminiviruses themselves. Genetic resistance was traditionally found by surveying the wild relatives of modern crops for resistance loci; this method is still widely used and successful. However, the quick rate of virus evolution demands a rapid turnover of resistance genes. With better information about virus-host interactions, scientists are now able to target early stages of geminivirus infection in the host, preventing symptom development and viral DNA accumulation.
Highlights
With better information about virus-host interactions, scientists are able to target early stages of geminivirus infection in the host, preventing symptom development and viral DNA accumulation
VIRAL PROTEINS MAY BE TARGETS FOR RESISTANCEGeminiviruses are circular single-stranded DNA viruses that infect a wide range of plant species including many important crops
Transgenic approaches have been developed in multiple systems to generate plants that produce antiviral short interfering RNA (siRNA), artificial miRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, synthetic transacting small interfering RNAs, etc., with different levels of success
Summary
With better information about virus-host interactions, scientists are able to target early stages of geminivirus infection in the host, preventing symptom development and viral DNA accumulation. Geminiviruses are circular single-stranded DNA viruses that infect a wide range of plant species including many important crops. Ty-1 plants have increased siRNA levels in comparison to non-resistant cultivars, corresponding with high levels of viral DNA methylation.
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