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Molecular Luteovirology: understanding cell-to-cell movement

Reference	BBS/E/C/00004225
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Mark Stevens
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	242,910
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1999
End date	31/03/2005
Duration	72 months

Abstract

The luteovirus group comprises a number of viruses which cause severe disease problems in a range of agricultural crops including Barley yellow dwarf (BYDV), Potato leafroll (PLRV) and Beet mild yellowing (BMYV). The viruses are transmitted by aphids in a persistent, circulative manner. Virus particles are restricted to the phloem and companion cells, and are associated with phloem dysfunction and disturbed carbohydrate metabolism. Disease control is based on the use of chemicals to control the aphid vectors, thereby decreasing incidence. Inherent plant resistance to infection would provide a more environmentally acceptable means of control, and examples of naturally-occurring resistance have been demonstrated for BMYV in wild Beta species. BMYV-resistance, derived from Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima, appears to be under polygenic control, and its incorporation into high-yielding commercial cultivars is proving complex. Fundamental studies in molecular virology and plant defence mechanisms continue to provide evidence that transgenic resistance offers prospects for major advances in control. Understanding the mechanism of movement of BMYV in sugar beet, and of this barrier to movement, may lead to alternative means of conferring resistance by genetic manipulation. Plant viruses move from cell-to-cell via plasmodesmata and luteoviruses are restricted to the specialised plasmodesmata of the phloem cells. It is unclear whether luteoviruses encode a movement protein for vascular movement. However, there is some evidence to suggest that open reading frame 4 of PLRV encodes for a 17kDa protein involved in movement. It is thought that this protein could modify the size exclusion limit of the phloem plasmodesmata assisting passage of the virus. It has also been proposed that the PLRV 17kDa protein is a phloem specific movement protein, mediating cell-to-cell transport by shaping PLRV RNA into complexes capable of movement via the plasmodesmata.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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