Plant viruses induce plant volatiles that are detected by aphid parasitoids.

Aphis gossypii (Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae) aphids are vectors of important plant viruses among which cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and potato virus Y (PVY). Virus-infected plants attract aphid vectors and affect their behavior and growth performance either positively or negatively depending on mode of transmission. Viruses cause changes in the composition and the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by the plant that attract aphids.

Multiple integrations of a sense transgene, including a tandem inverted repeat confer stable RNA-silencing mediated virus resistance under different abiotic and biotic conditions.

In a previous study, tobacco plants, transformed with a sense construct of the 57K domain of the replicase gene of tobacco rattle virus (TRV), provided resistance against genetically distant isolates of the virus. In this work, 57K-specific siRNAs were detected with RT-qPCR solely in the resistant line verifying the RNA-silencing base of the resistance. The integration sites of the transgene into the plant genome were identified with inverse-PCR.

A Simplified Dot-Blot Hybridization Protocol for Potato spindle tuber viroid Detection in Solanaceae.

A simplified dot-blot hybridization protocol for Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) detection in Solanaceae species is described here. The protocol uses an RNA DIG-labeled probe and a simplified extraction procedure that avoids the use of hazardous chemicals. PSTVd was detected in composite tomato leaf samples in a ratio of up to 1:15 of PSTVd-infected to non-infected tissue and in composite potato tuber samples in a ratio up to 1:5 of PSTVd-infected to non-infected tissue.

Association of Citrus Virus A to Citrus Impietratura Disease Symptoms.

Citrus impietratura disease (CID) is a graft transmissible, virus-like disease observed in old-line citrus trees; its characteristic symptom is the appearance of gum in the albedo of the affected fruits. To identify the causal agent of the disease, high-throughput sequencing (HTS) was performed on symptomatic orange fruits. The analysis of the obtained data revealed in all samples mixed infections of viroids commonly found in citrus trees together with the recently described citrus virus A (CiVA).

The plasma membrane Cation binding protein 1 affects accumulation of Potato virus Y in pepper both at the systemic level and in protoplasts.

The Plasma membrane Cation binding Protein 1 (PCaP1) has been shown to be important for the intra-cellular movement of two members of the Potyvirus genus in arabidopsis and tobacco plants. In this study, the orthologous PCaP1 gene of pepper (Capsicum annuum) was examined for its role in the accumulation of Potato virus Y, type member of the Potyvirus. Downregulation of C.