Plant Mycology and Virology

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2022) | Viewed by 46362

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Guest Editor
Bioenergy Crop Research Institute, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration, Muan 58545, Korea
Interests: biological control; endophytes; molecular phylogeny; mycology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
University of Idaho, College of Agriculture and life science, Dept. of Plant science, Aberdeen Research and Extension Center, 1693 S 2700 W Aberdeen, USA
Interests: mycology; molecular plant pathology; plant virology; biocontrol

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant pathogenic fungi and viruses are the most important production barriers in agriculture and are economically important pathogens. They are the cause of substantial agricultural losses in different seasons and plants, from seedbed to storage. Most fungi reproduce through spores and contain microscopic tubular cells termed hyphae; fungi could be heterotrophs, biotrophs, saprotrophs or necrotrophs. Fungi produce diseases in plants, including leaf spot, seedling blight, wilting, cankers, galls, witches broom, stunting, and rots in storage. By contrast, plant viruses are intercellular parasites that do not have a molecular mechanism to replicate without a host and which transmit through a vector. Common plant pathogenic viruses include mosaic, leaf curl, poxvirus, dwarf, leaf rool, and bushy stunt virus. Thus, plant mycology and virology are important parts in agriculture.

This Special Issue will focus on but not be limited to fungal and viral disease detection, monitoring, identification of the causal pathogens by traditional and molecular methods, and integrated disease management. We welcome well-prepared manuscripts of original research, review articles, and short communications.

Dr. Narayan Chandra Paul
Dr. Rawnaq Nazneen Chowdhury
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Plant fungus
  • Molecular mycology
  • Plant virology
  • Molecular virology
  • Management and prevention

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 4194 KiB  
Article
Effect of Mineral Nutrition and Salt Spray on Cucumber Downy Mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis)
by Dor Barnea, Uri Yermiyahu, Dalia Rav-David and Yigal Elad
Plants 2022, 11(8), 1007; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11081007 - 7 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1861
Abstract
It was previously shown that spraying with CaCl2, MgCl2, KCl, and K2SO4 and high N and Mg concentrations in the irrigation water of potted cucumber plants reduced powdery mildew, while medium P and high K concentrations [...] Read more.
It was previously shown that spraying with CaCl2, MgCl2, KCl, and K2SO4 and high N and Mg concentrations in the irrigation water of potted cucumber plants reduced powdery mildew, while medium P and high K concentrations increased powdery mildew. In the present work, we tested the effect of irrigation with N, P, K, Ca, and Mg and spraying with salts on downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) of cucumber (CDM). In potted plants, an increase in N concentration in the irrigation water resulted in a major increase in CDM severity, while an increase in K or Ca concentrations resulted in a gradual increase in CDM severity. An increase in P and Mg concentrations in the irrigation water resulted in a major CDM decrease. Spraying with Ca, Mg, and K salts with Cl and SO4 anions resulted in CDM suppression in most cases, and a negative correlation was obtained between the salt and anion molar concentrations and the CDM severity. Using NaCl sprays, both Na and Cl concentrations were negatively related to the CDM severity. MgCl2 (0.1 M Cl), K2SO4 (0.1 M SO4), MgCl2 + K2SO4, and monopotassium phosphate (MKP, 1%) sprayed under commercial-like (CL) conditions significantly reduced CDM by 36.6% to 62.6% in one disease cycle, while, in a second cycle, CDM was significantly reduced only by K2SO4 and MKP. In conclusion, fertigation with P and Mg, and salt spraying decreased CDM, while only spraying under CL resulted in CDM suppression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Mycology and Virology)
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14 pages, 845 KiB  
Article
A Survey of Main Pepper Crop Viruses in Different Cultivation Systems for the Selection of the Most Appropriate Resistance Genes in Sensitive Local Cultivars in Northern Spain
by Mikel Ojinaga, Pedro Guirao and Santiago Larregla
Plants 2022, 11(6), 719; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11060719 - 8 Mar 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3018
Abstract
Viral diseases have become one of the main phytosanitary problems for pepper growers in the Basque Country (northern Spain). In 2014, a survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of the most common viruses found in Gernika pepper and Ibarra chili pepper [...] Read more.
Viral diseases have become one of the main phytosanitary problems for pepper growers in the Basque Country (northern Spain). In 2014, a survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of the most common viruses found in Gernika pepper and Ibarra chili pepper landraces. A total of 97 plots were surveyed and classified according to the crop system. Within these plots, 1107 plants were sampled and tested for tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV), pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), paprika mild mottle virus (PaMMV), potato virus Y (PVY) and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) applying a DAS-ELISA test. PaMMV was verified by the non-radioactive molecular hybridization technique and it was found to be negative. All viruses were detected, but the most prevalent viruses were PVY and TMGMV (19.8% and 10.6% of tested plants, respectively). Differences among cultivation systems were found for most of the tested viruses. PVY had a higher level of infection under open field conditions (27.3%) than under greenhouse conditions (12.3%). Inversely, the viruses belonging to the Tobamovirus genus and TSWV prevailed under greenhouse conditions (28.9% and 5.2%) when compared to open field (11.2% and 1.1%), respectively. Single (28%) and multiple infections (8.9%) were found. All PMMoV isolates were classified as pathotype P1.2. Survey results indicated that tobamovirus and PVY resistance genes would be the most appropriate to be included in breeding programs with these sensitive pepper landraces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Mycology and Virology)
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16 pages, 686 KiB  
Article
Examining the Interaction between Phytophthora sojae and Soybean Cyst Nematode on Soybean (Glycine max)
by Rawnaq N. Chowdhury, Paul N. Okello and Emmanuel Byamukama
Plants 2022, 11(4), 560; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11040560 - 21 Feb 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2219
Abstract
Phytophthora sojae and soybean cyst nematode (SCN) are important pathogens of soybean. Although these pathogens infect soybean roots, there is limited evidence of any interaction between them. The objective of this study was to examine the interaction between SCN and P. sojae on [...] Read more.
Phytophthora sojae and soybean cyst nematode (SCN) are important pathogens of soybean. Although these pathogens infect soybean roots, there is limited evidence of any interaction between them. The objective of this study was to examine the interaction between SCN and P. sojae on soybean in the greenhouse. Seeds of four soybean cultivars (Jack, Surge, Williams 82, Williams) were pre-germinated and placed in cone-tainers (Stuewe and Sons Inc., Tangent, OR, USA), containing a steam pasteurized sand-clay mixture. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design with five replications and performed twice. Two P. sojae isolates were used in this study that represented two different virulence pathotypes (simple and complex pathotypes). For each isolate, soybean plants were not inoculated, inoculated with one of the treatments—SCN, P. sojae, and combination of P. sojae and SCN. After 35 DOI, stem length, root length, plant weight, root weight, lesion length, and SCN population were recorded. On all soybean cultivars with different types of incomplete resistance, the complex pathotype (PS-15-TF3) influenced the lesion length (mm) in the presence of SCN. However, the SCN population was reduced by both complex and simple pathotypes of P. sojae. This suggests that use both SCN and P. sojae resistance cultivars, can manage the disease complex and reduce soybean yield loss. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Mycology and Virology)
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15 pages, 2863 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome Analysis of Colletotrichum fructicola Infecting Camellia oleifera Indicates That Two Distinct Geographical Fungi Groups Have Different Destructive Proliferation Capacities Related to Purine Metabolism
by Shimeng Tan, Yanying Chen, Guoying Zhou and Junang Liu
Plants 2021, 10(12), 2672; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122672 - 5 Dec 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2582
Abstract
Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum spp., is a significant disease affecting oil tea (Camellia oleifera Abel.). Extensive molecular studies have demonstrated that Colletotrichum fructicola is the dominant pathogen of oil tea anthracnose in China. This study aims to investigate differences in molecular processes [...] Read more.
Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum spp., is a significant disease affecting oil tea (Camellia oleifera Abel.). Extensive molecular studies have demonstrated that Colletotrichum fructicola is the dominant pathogen of oil tea anthracnose in China. This study aims to investigate differences in molecular processes and regulatory genes at a late stage of infection of C. fructicola, to aid in understanding differences in pathogenic mechanisms of C. fructicola of different geographic populations. We compared the pathogenicity of C. fructicola from different populations (Wuzhishan, Hainan province, and Shaoyang, Hunan province) and gene expression of representative strains of the two populations before and after inoculation in oil tea using RNA sequencing. The results revealed that C. fructicola from Wuzhishan has a more vital ability to impact oil tea leaf tissue. Following infection with oil tea leaves, up-regulated genes in the strains from two geographic populations were associated with galactosidase activity, glutamine family amino acid metabolism, arginine, and proline metabolism. Additionally, up-regulated gene lists associated with infection by Wuzhishan strains were significantly enriched in purine metabolism pathways, while Shaoyang strains were not. These results indicate that more transcriptional and translational activity and the greater regulation of the purine metabolism pathway in the C. fructicola of the Wuzhishan strain might contribute to its stronger pathogenicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Mycology and Virology)
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13 pages, 2746 KiB  
Article
Fusarium Oxysporum f. sp. Cannabis Isolated from Cannabis Sativa L.: In Vitro and In Planta Biocontrol by a Plant Growth Promoting-Bacteria Consortium
by Marika Pellegrini, Claudia Ercole, Carmelo Gianchino, Matteo Bernardi, Loretta Pace and Maddalena Del Gallo
Plants 2021, 10(11), 2436; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112436 - 11 Nov 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3986
Abstract
Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a multipurpose plant used in several fields. Several phytopathogens attack hemp crops. Fusarium oxysporum is a common fungal pathogen that causes wilt disease in nurseries and in field cultivation and causes high losses. In the present [...] Read more.
Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a multipurpose plant used in several fields. Several phytopathogens attack hemp crops. Fusarium oxysporum is a common fungal pathogen that causes wilt disease in nurseries and in field cultivation and causes high losses. In the present study, a pathogenic strain belonging to F. oxysporum f. sp. cannabis was isolated from a plant showing Fusarium wilt. After isolation, identification was conducted based on morphological and molecular characterizations and pathogenicity tests. Selected plant growth-promoting bacteria with interesting biocontrol properties—Azospirillum brasilense, Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus, Herbaspirillum seropedicae and Burkholderia ambifaria—were tested against this pathogen. In vitro antagonistic activity was determined by the dual culture method. Effective strains (in vitro inhibition > of 50%) G. diazotrophicus, H. seropedicae and B. ambifaria were combined in a consortium and screened for in planta antagonistic activity in pre-emergence (before germination) and post-emergence (after germination). The consortium counteracted Fusarium infection both in pre-emergence and post-emergence. Our preliminary results show that the selected consortium could be further investigated as an effective biocontrol agent for the management of this pathogen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Mycology and Virology)
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26 pages, 6599 KiB  
Article
Molecular Characterization of the Alfalfa mosaic virus Infecting Solanum melongena in Egypt and the Control of Its Deleterious Effects with Melatonin and Salicylic Acid
by Ahmed R. Sofy, Mahmoud R. Sofy, Ahmed A. Hmed, Rehab A. Dawoud, Ehab E. Refaey, Heba I. Mohamed and Noha K. El-Dougdoug
Plants 2021, 10(3), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030459 - 28 Feb 2021
Cited by 67 | Viewed by 5327
Abstract
During the spring of 2019, distinct virus-like symptoms were observed in the Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate in Egypt in naturally infected eggplants. Leaves of affected plants showed interveinal leaf chlorosis, net yellow, chlorotic sectors, mottling, blisters, vein enation, necrotic intervention, and narrowing symptoms. The [...] Read more.
During the spring of 2019, distinct virus-like symptoms were observed in the Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate in Egypt in naturally infected eggplants. Leaves of affected plants showed interveinal leaf chlorosis, net yellow, chlorotic sectors, mottling, blisters, vein enation, necrotic intervention, and narrowing symptoms. The Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) was suspected of to be involved in this disease. Forty plant samples from symptomatic eggplants and 10 leaf samples with no symptoms were collected. The samples were tested by double antibody sandwich ELISA (DAS-ELISA) using AMV-IgG. Six of the 40 symptomatic leaf samples tested positive for AMV, while, DAS-ELISA found no AMV in the 10 leaf samples without symptoms. The AMV Egyptian isolate (AMV-Eggplant-EG) was biologically isolated from the six positive samples tested by DAS-ELISA and from the similar local lesions induced on Chenopodium amaranticolor and then re-inoculated in healthy Solanum melongena as a source of AMV-Eggplant-EG and confirmed by DAS-ELISA. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay with a pair of primers specific for coat protein (CP) encoding RNA 3 of AMV yielded an amplicon of 666 bp from infected plants of Solanum melongena with AMV-Eggplant-EG. The amplified PCR product was cloned and sequenced. Analysis of the AMV-Eggplant-EG sequence revealed 666 nucleotides (nt) of the complete CP gene (translating 221 amino acid (aa) residues). Analysis of phylogeny for nt and deduced aa sequences of the CP gene using the maximum parsimony method clustered AMV-Eggplant-EG in the lineage of Egyptian isolates (shark-EG, mans-EG, CP2-EG, and FRE-EG) with a high bootstrap value of 88% and 92%, respectively. In addition to molecular studies, melatonin (MTL) and salicylic acid (SA) (100 μM) were used to increase the resistance of eggplant to AMV- infection. Foliar spray with MLT and SA caused a significant increase in the morphological criteria (shoot, root length, number of leaves, leaf area, and leaf biomass), chlorophyll and carotenoid content, antioxidant enzymes, and gene expression of some enzymes compared to the infected plants. On the other hand, treatment with MLT and SA reduced the oxidative damage caused by AMV through the reduction of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anions, hydroxyl radicals, and malondialdehyde. In conclusion, MLT and SA are eco-friendly compounds and can be used as antiviral compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Mycology and Virology)
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14 pages, 20103 KiB  
Article
Rapid and Specific Detection of the Poplar Black Spot Disease Caused by Marssonina brunnea Using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay
by Qin Xiong, Linlin Zhang, Xinyue Zheng, Yulin Qian, Yaxin Zhang, Lijuan Zhao and Qiang Cheng
Plants 2021, 10(2), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020253 - 28 Jan 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2466
Abstract
Marssonina brunnea is the main pathogen that causes poplar black spot disease, which leads to the decrease of the photosynthetic efficiency and significantly affects the production and quality of timber. Currently, no in-field diagnostic exists for M. brunnea. Here, we described a [...] Read more.
Marssonina brunnea is the main pathogen that causes poplar black spot disease, which leads to the decrease of the photosynthetic efficiency and significantly affects the production and quality of timber. Currently, no in-field diagnostic exists for M. brunnea. Here, we described a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the rapid and sensitive detection of M. brunnea. A set of six oligonucleotide primers was designed to recognize eight distinct sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of M. brunnea. The LAMP assay was optimized by the combination of high specificity, sensitivity, and rapidity for the detection of less than 10 pg/μL of target genomic DNA in 60 min per reaction at 65 °C, whereas with PCR, there was no amplification of DNA with concentration less than 1 ng/μL. Among the genomic DNA of 20 fungalisolates, only the samples containing the genomic DNA of M. brunnea changed from violet to sky blue (visible to the naked eye) by using hydroxynaphthol blue (HNB) dye. No DNA was amplified from the eight other fungus species, including two other Marssonina pathogens, three other foliar fungi pathogens of poplar, and three common foliar fungal endophytes of poplar. Moreover, the detection rates of M. brunnea from artificially and naturally infected poplar leaves were 10/16 (62.5%) and 6/16 (37.5%) using PCR, respectively, while the positive-sample ratios were both 16/16 (100%) using the LAMP assay. Overall, the ITS LAMP assay established here can be a better alternative to PCR-based techniques for the specific and sensitive detection of M. brunnea in poplar endemic areas with resource-limited settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Mycology and Virology)
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14 pages, 1692 KiB  
Article
Physico-Chemical Characteristics and Culturable Microbial Communities of Grape Berries Change Strongly during Noble Rot Development
by Júlia Hegyi-Kaló, Ádám István Hegyi, József Geml, Zsolt Zsófi, Xénia Pálfi and Kálmán Zoltán Váczy
Plants 2020, 9(12), 1809; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9121809 - 21 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3429
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea is a well-known pathogen of grapevine. However, under certain microclimatic conditions, Botrytis infection results in noble rot, an essential process in the production of the world-known Tokaji aszú wines in Hungary. We investigated the physico-chemical characteristics and culturable microorganisms associated with [...] Read more.
Botrytis cinerea is a well-known pathogen of grapevine. However, under certain microclimatic conditions, Botrytis infection results in noble rot, an essential process in the production of the world-known Tokaji aszú wines in Hungary. We investigated the physico-chemical characteristics and culturable microorganisms associated with grape berries through several noble rot phases in the two main cultivars grown in Tokaj: Vitisvinifera cv. “Furmint” and “Hárslevelű”. We measured physical and analytical parameters routinely tested in viticulture and analyzed the ITS rDNA sequence data of fungi isolated from the sampled berries. We observed significant differences in the physico-chemical parameters among the noble rot phases as well as sampling dates. The greatest variation in berry texture and microbial structure was observed in the initial phases, with variables converging as the noble rot progressed. By finding a bijection between the examined chemical properties and the factorial parameters (e.g., noble rot phase, collection time, cultivar), an appropriate sweet winemaking material can be designed. Fungal community differed significantly among cultivars, with higher number of species observed in Hárslevelű. Our results reveal that there is more to noble rot than only Botrytiscinerea and other microorganisms may play important roles in the aszú process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Mycology and Virology)
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13 pages, 3059 KiB  
Article
Molecular Detection of Potato Viruses in Bangladesh and Their Phylogenetic Analysis
by Mamun-Or Rashid, Ying Wang and Cheng-Gui Han
Plants 2020, 9(11), 1413; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9111413 - 22 Oct 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3499
Abstract
Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a major food source in the whole world including Bangladesh. Viral diseases are the key constraint for sustainable potato production by reducing both quality and quantity. To determine the present status of eight important potato viruses in [...] Read more.
Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a major food source in the whole world including Bangladesh. Viral diseases are the key constraint for sustainable potato production by reducing both quality and quantity. To determine the present status of eight important potato viruses in Bangladesh, tuber samples were collected from three major potato growing regions (Munshiganj, Jessore and Bogra districts) in January–February 2017 and February 2018. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with coat protein (CP)-specific primers were used to amplify CP sequences of the respective viruses, and confirmed by sequencing, which were deposited in the GenBank. Results indicated that the tuber samples were subjected to Potato leafroll virus (PLRV), Potato virus X (PVX), Potato virus Y (PVY), Potato virus S (PVS), Potato virus H (PVH), Potato aucuba mosaic virus (PAMV) and Potato virus M (PVM) infection, whereas mixed infections were very common. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the PLRV from this study was closely related to a Canadian and a Chinese isolate, respectively; PVX was closely related to a Canadian and a Chinese isolate, respectively; PVY was closely related to a Chinese isolate; PVS was closely related to a Chinese and an Iranian isolate, respectively; PAMV was closely related to a Canadian isolate; PVH was closely related to a Huhhot isolate of China; and PVM was closely related to an Indian and an Iranian isolate, respectively. As far as we know, PAMV in this study is the first report in Bangladesh. These findings will provide a great scope for appropriate virus control strategies to virus free potato production in Bangladesh. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Mycology and Virology)
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12 pages, 651 KiB  
Communication
A Fresh Look at Grape Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe necator) A and B Genotypes Revealed Frequent Mixed Infections and Only B Genotypes in Flag Shoot Samples
by Anett Csikós, Márk Z. Németh, Omer Frenkel, Levente Kiss and Kálmán Zoltán Váczy
Plants 2020, 9(9), 1156; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9091156 - 7 Sep 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3206
Abstract
Erysiphe necator populations, causing powdery mildew of grapes, have a complex genetic structure. Two genotypes, A and B, were identified in most vineyards across the world on the basis of fixed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in several DNA regions. It was hypothesized that [...] Read more.
Erysiphe necator populations, causing powdery mildew of grapes, have a complex genetic structure. Two genotypes, A and B, were identified in most vineyards across the world on the basis of fixed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in several DNA regions. It was hypothesized that A populations overwinter as mycelia in grapevine buds, giving rise to so-called flag shoots in spring, and are more sensitive to fungicides than B populations, which overwinter as ascospores and become widespread later in the season. Other studies concluded that the biological significance of these genotypes is unclear. In the spring of 2015, there was a unique opportunity to collect E. necator samples from flag shoots in Hungary. The same grapevines were sampled in summer and autumn as well. A total of 182 samples were genotyped on the basis of β-tubulin (TUB2), nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) intergenic spacer (IGS), and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. Genotypes of 56 samples collected in 2009–2011 were used for comparison. Genotype A was not detected at all in spring, and was present in only 19 samples in total, mixed with genotype B, and sometimes with another frequently found genotype, designated as B2. These results did not support the hypothesis about temporal isolation of the two genotypes and indicated that these are randomly distributed in vineyards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Mycology and Virology)
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Review

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19 pages, 1755 KiB  
Review
Control of Plant Viral Diseases by CRISPR/Cas9: Resistance Mechanisms, Strategies and Challenges in Food Crops
by Saleh Ahmed Shahriar, M. Nazrul Islam, Charles Ng Wai Chun, Md. Abdur Rahim, Narayan Chandra Paul, Jasim Uddain and Shafiquzzaman Siddiquee
Plants 2021, 10(7), 1264; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071264 - 22 Jun 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 8215
Abstract
Protecting food crops from viral pathogens is a significant challenge for agriculture. An integral approach to genome-editing, known as CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR associated protein 9), is used to produce virus-resistant cultivars. The CRISPR/Cas9 tool is an essential [...] Read more.
Protecting food crops from viral pathogens is a significant challenge for agriculture. An integral approach to genome-editing, known as CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR associated protein 9), is used to produce virus-resistant cultivars. The CRISPR/Cas9 tool is an essential part of modern plant breeding due to its attractive features. Advances in plant breeding programs due to the incorporation of Cas9 have enabled the development of cultivars with heritable resistance to plant viruses. The resistance to viral DNA and RNA is generally provided using the Cas9 endonuclease and sgRNAs (single-guide RNAs) complex, targeting particular virus and host plant genomes by interrupting the viral cleavage or altering the plant host genome, thus reducing the replication ability of the virus. In this review, the CRISPR/Cas9 system and its application to staple food crops resistance against several destructive plant viruses are briefly described. We outline the key findings of recent Cas9 applications, including enhanced virus resistance, genetic mechanisms, research strategies, and challenges in economically important and globally cultivated food crop species. The research outcome of this emerging molecular technology can extend the development of agriculture and food security. We also describe the information gaps and address the unanswered concerns relating to plant viral resistance mediated by CRISPR/Cas9. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Mycology and Virology)
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Other

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12 pages, 1204 KiB  
Perspective
Controlling Geminiviruses before Transmission: Prospects
by Muhammad Salman Mubarik, Sultan Habibullah Khan, Aftab Ahmad, Ali Raza, Zulqurnain Khan, Muhammad Sajjad, Reda Helmy Ahmed Sammour, Abd El-Zaher M.A. Mustafa, Abdullah Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, Amal H. Alajmi, Fatin K. I. Alshamasi and Mohamed Soliman Elshikh
Plants 2020, 9(11), 1556; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9111556 - 12 Nov 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3956
Abstract
Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)-transmitted Geminiviruses cause serious diseases of crop plants in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Plants, animals, and their microbial symbionts have evolved complex ways to interact with each other that impact their life cycles. Blocking virus transmission by altering the [...] Read more.
Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)-transmitted Geminiviruses cause serious diseases of crop plants in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Plants, animals, and their microbial symbionts have evolved complex ways to interact with each other that impact their life cycles. Blocking virus transmission by altering the biology of vector species, such as the whitefly, can be a potential approach to manage these devastating diseases. Virus transmission by insect vectors to plant hosts often involves bacterial endosymbionts. Molecular chaperonins of bacterial endosymbionts bind with virus particles and have a key role in the transmission of Geminiviruses. Hence, devising new approaches to obstruct virus transmission by manipulating bacterial endosymbionts before infection opens new avenues for viral disease control. The exploitation of bacterial endosymbiont within the insect vector would disrupt interactions among viruses, insects, and their bacterial endosymbionts. The study of this cooperating web could potentially decrease virus transmission and possibly represent an effective solution to control viral diseases in crop plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Mycology and Virology)
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