Elucidating the mechanisms of Sugarcane Mosaic Virus-maize interactions on Maize Striate Mosaic Virus transmission and proliferation: towards the development of resistant maize lines

• Grant number: 24/15530-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Joao Roberto Spotti Lopes
• Grantee: Joao Roberto Spotti Lopes
• Principal researcher abroad: Tao Zhou
• Institution abroad: China Agricultural University, China
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Aline Sartori Guidolin ; Carlos Alberto Labate ; Kaitong Du ; Marcos Cesar Gonçalves ; Nathalie Kristine Prado Maluta ; Pedro Luis Ramos González ; Thaís Regiani Cataldi ; Zihao Xia

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) serves as a crucial staple crop globally, playing a pivotal role in ensuring food security and promoting economic development. It is not only an important source of food but also widely used in various fields such as feed, food processing, and energy production. China and Brazil are top producers of corn, but they are also among the three largest consumers of corn, which is of crucial importance as a diet component in their animal production chains. However, viral diseases pose a serious threat to the safety and sustainable development of the maize industry, especially with the current intensification of agriculture. Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) is a widespread virus in maize in China and Brazil, which is commonly found in mixed infections with other important viruses, sometimes in synergistic associations, increasing symptom severity. Interestingly, we have observed higher transmission rates of maize striate mosaic virus (MSMV) in plants previously infected with SCMV, suggesting that SCMV my facilitate infection or proliferation of MSMV or may turn the maize plants more attractive to the leafhopper vector, Dalbulus maidis. The aim of this project is to integrate the expertise of both parties, to deeply study the molecular mechanism by which SCMV promotes the transmission and proliferation of MSMV, and to use gene editing or transgenic technology to break the "host cell environment" that favors the co-infection of the two viruses and the transmission of MSMV, in order to cultivate maize lines that are resistant to SCMV, MSMV and possibly to the leafhopper vector. We will first conduct biological and behavioral experiments to verify if the increasing transmission efficiency of MSMB is due to a higher feeding preference of the leafhopper vector for SCMV-infected plants or to higher multiplication of MSMV on SCMV on infected plants, or o a combination of both.Subsequently, by employing molecular biology and bioinformatics, we will gain an in-depth understanding of how SCMV influences the behavior of the corn leafhopper and/or the proliferation of MSMV. The research will then concentrate on the regulation of specific metabolic and molecular pathways, identification of key functional genes, and ultimately, the cultivation of resistant maize through transgenic and gene-editing technologies. (AU)