Assessing the diversity of whiteflies infesting cassava in Brazil.

Background: The necessity of a competent vector for transmission is a primary ecological factor driving the host range expansion of plant arthropod-borne viruses, with vectors playing an essential role in disease emergence. Cassava begomoviruses severely constrain cassava production in Africa. Curiously, begomoviruses have never been reported in cassava in South America, the center of origin for this crop.

Shotgun proteomics coupled to transient-inducible gene silencing reveal rice susceptibility genes as new sources for blast disease resistance.

A comparative proteomic analysis between two near-isogenic rice lines, displaying a resistant and susceptible phenotype upon infection with Magnaporthe oryzae was performed. We identified and validated factors associated with rice disease susceptibility, representing a flourishing source toward a more resolute rice-blast resistance. Proteome profiles were remarkably different during early infection (12 h post-inoculation), revealing several proteins with increased abundance in the compatible interaction.

Molecular characterization and sequence analysis of four Brazilian rice stripe necrosis virus isolates.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important food crop for humanity, being cultivated in tropical and temperate regions of the world. This study reports the nearly complete genome sequences of four Brazilian rice stripe necrosis virus (RSNV) isolates.