Abstract
Infection of viruses in plants often modifies plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In the present study we examined the effects of Rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV) infection on drought response in rice. RTSV infection delayed the onset of leaf rolling by 1-2 days. During the delay in drought response, plants infected with RTSV showed higher stomatal conductance and less negative leaf water potential under drought than those of uninfected plants, indicating that RTSV-infected leaves were more hydrated. Other growth and physiological traits of plants under drought were not altered by infection with RTSV. An expression analysis of genes for drought response-related transcription factors showed that the expression of OsNAC6 and OsDREB2a was less activated by drought in RTSV-infected plants than in uninfected plants, further suggesting improved water status of the plants due to RTSV infection. RTSV accumulated more in plants under drought than in well-watered plants, indicating the increased susceptibility of rice plants to RTSV infection by drought. Collectively, these results indicated that infection with RTSV can transiently mitigate the influence of drought stress on rice plants by increasing leaf hydration, while drought increased the susceptibility of rice plants to RTSV.
Highlights
Plants are often exposed simultaneously to multiple biotic and abiotic stresses
Both uninfected and Rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV)-infected plants started showing leaf rolling on the same day between 33 and 38 Days after sowing (DAS) when the soil moisture level became below 30% of field capacity (Fig. 1), but leaf rolling in uninfected plants started two to
To confirm the observed difference in drought response between uninfected and RTSV-infected plants is associated with RTSV infection, we repeated the experiment under shaded conditions
Summary
Among the interactions of plants with various biotic and abiotic stress combinations, the responses of plants under simultaneous stresses from pathogens and drought have been most well studied (Mayek-Pérez et al 2002; McElrone et al 2003; Xu et al 2008; Ramegowda et al 2013; Davis et al 2015; Gupta et al 2016) The outcome of such interactions varies depending on drought severity and pathogens, the order of occurrence of each stressor, and the intensity and duration of exposure (Gupta et al 2016). Simultaneous exposure of Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. plants to drought stress and Xylella fastidiosa infection resulted in more
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