Comparative transcriptome analysis of tree infected with stem pitting mutants provides new insight into the role of phloem regeneration in stem pitting disease.

Stem pitting is a complex and economically important virus-associated disease of perennial woody plants. Molecular mechanisms and pathways occurring during virus-plant interaction that result in this phenomenon are still obscure. Previous studies indicated that different (CTV) mutants induce defined stem pitting phenotypes ranging from mild (CTVΔp13) to severe (CTVΔp33) in trees.