Interactions between Cilevirus, Dichorhavirus and their host plants

• Grant number: 19/24792-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: July 01, 2020
• End date: June 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Juliana de Freitas Astúa
• Grantee: Leticia Maria Ferreira
• Host Institution: Instituto Biológico (IB). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brevipalpus yothersi is the most common tenuipalpid mite vector in Brazilian citrus orchards and is associated with the transmission of several plant viruses known as BTVs (Brevipalpus-transmitted viruses). These BTVs belong to two distinct genera, Cilevirus and Dichorhavirus. The main cileviruses are citrus leprosis virus C (CiLV-C), the causal agent of citrus leprosis, which causes severe damage to orange production, and passion fruit green spot virus (PfGSV), the causal agent of passion fruit green spot, which can lead to premature death of the plant. Among the dicorhaviruses, coffee ringspot virus (CoRSV), which causes damage to coffee production and the quality of the beverage, and clerodendrum chlorotic spot virus (ClCSV), can be highlighted for their economic or biological importance. Some of these crops are of great economic and social importance to Brazil. Many studies have attempted to clarify the passive and active mechanisms of plant defense mechanisms against pathogens and pests. Plant defense mechanisms, such as the salicylic acid and jasmonate/ethylene pathways, have been shown to act antagonistically when inoculated with mites viruliferous for CiLV-C. However, there is no information on plant response to other BTVs. Thus, this work aims to investigate whether similar response is observed for other BTV pathosystems, involving both virus genera. This project shall obtain results that will complement the available information regarding BTV-host interactions, and identify genes that may be used as targets for the control of Brevipalpus-transmitted viruses. (AU)