Recent Advances in Virus-host Coevolution and Protective Mechanisms against Plant Viruses
Amal Souiri *
Laboratory of Virology, Microbiology and Quality / Ecotoxicology and Biodiversity (LVMQ/ETB), Faculty of Science and Techniques Mohammedia (FSTM), University Hassan II of Casablanca (UH2C), Mohammedia 20650, Morocco and Laboratory of Biochemistry and Immunology, Faculty of Sciences, Agdal, University of Mohammed V, Rabat 10080, Morocco and Laboratory of Sanitary Control, Control Unit of Plants, Domaines Agricoles Maâmora, Salé 11000, Morocco
Mustapha Zemzami
Laboratory of Sanitary Control, Control Unit of Plants, Domaines Agricoles Maâmora, Salé 11000, Morocco
Saaïd Amzazi
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Immunology, Faculty of Sciences, Agdal, University of Mohammed V, Rabat 10080, Morocco
Moulay Mustapha Ennaji
Laboratory of Virology, Microbiology and Quality / Ecotoxicology and Biodiversity (LVMQ/ETB), Faculty of Science and Techniques Mohammedia (FSTM), University Hassan II of Casablanca (UH2C), Mohammedia 20650, Morocco
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In plant pathology, the study of the interaction between the plant host and the viral pathogen has been a very active area of research in the last few decades. The infection process of a plant pathogen usually begins with the exchange of molecular signals. With particular emphasis on plant virus evolution, and focusing on quantitative and population genetics, plant virus-host interactions and coevolution allow understanding of the major factors favoring disease emergence. The exploitation of viral interaction phenomena will improve established genetic engineering strategies for viral cross-protection in plants. Also, the study of plant immunity against viral infection, both innate and adaptive (e.g. RNA silencing), has helped in the development of resistant varieties to several plant viruses based on genetic engineering. This review summarizes the recent advances in plant-virus interactions and co-evolution as well as current developments in resistant crop investigations.
Keywords: Plant-virus interactions, virus evolution, plant immunity, antiviral resistance, cross-protection, genetic engineering