How resistant plant varieties avoid suppression of RNA silencing by viruses as exemplified by sweetpotato: Better food security through virus control.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Greenwich
Department Name: Natural Resources Institute
Abstract
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Technical Summary
RNA silencing (RS) is a fundamental plant defence involving small interfering RNA; RS-based resistance is achieved only when viral suppression is avoided. Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), the commonest virus of sweetpotato, induces only transient mild symptoms and associated reversion to healthy, hallmarks of RS defence, provides an alternative to certified virus-free schemes in low-input, developing country farming systems for sweetpotato and other vegetatively-propagated crops, e.g., cassava mosaic-resistant cassava. Sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD), the main disease of sweetpotato in Africa, involves both Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV) and SPFMV. During co-infection, SPFMV increases in titre, often by several orders of magnitude and apparently in all tissues. SPCSV and SPFMV have already been sequenced. SPCSV has two RNA molecules: two proteins encoded by its RNA 1, p22 and an RNase3 have together been shown to suppress RS, providing a mechanism whereby SPCSV co-infection releases SPFMV from RS-based resistance and causes SPVD. How plants resist viruses through RS will be investigated by studying the known RS system in sweetpotato against SPFMV both in circumstance where resistant sweetpotato resist SPFMV when infecting alone and where it breaks down when co-infecting SPCSV suppresses RS. Diverse germplasm including extreme resistance to SPCSV and SPFMV now identified in CIP's worldwide sweetpotato collection, SPVD-tolerant African landraces and engineered resistance provide additional research entry points. Sweetpotato is a vital food and nutritional crop in many developing, especially African countries; partners include an African (Uganda) national breeding programme and university. The range and durability of SPFMV RS-based plant resistance, combining ability with other forms of resistance and molecular markers of resistance will be assessed, aiming to achieve rapid deployment of superior resistant varieties and sustainable control
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Richard William Gibson (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
De Souza J
(2011)
Sequence analysis of the replicase gene of 'sweet potato caulimo-like virus' suggests that this virus is a distinct member of the genus Cavemovirus.
in Archives of virology
Mwanga R
(2011)
'NASPOT 11', a Sweetpotato Cultivar Bred by a Participatory Plant-breeding Approach in Uganda
in HortScience
Clark CA
(2012)
Sweetpotato Viruses: 15 Years of Progress on Understanding and Managing Complex Diseases.
in Plant disease
Gibson R
(2014)
Degeneration in sweetpotato due to viruses, virus-cleaned planting material and reversion: a review
in Plant Pathology
Wasswa P
(2011)
First identification of a sweet potato begomovirus (sweepovirus) in Uganda: characterization, detection and distribution
in Plant Pathology
GIBSON R
(2011)
Benefits of participatory plant breeding (PPB) as exemplified by the first-ever officially released PPB-bred sweet potato cultivar
in The Journal of Agricultural Science
Cuellar WJ
(2011)
Distinct cavemoviruses interact synergistically with sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (genus Crinivirus) in cultivated sweet potato.
in The Journal of general virology
Cuellar WJ
(2011)
Sequence characterization of a Peruvian isolate of Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus: further variability and a model for p22 acquisition.
in Virus research
Gibson RW
(2014)
The ability of cultivars of sweetpotato in East Africa to 'revert' from Sweet potato feathery mottle virus infection.
in Virus research
Description | The key finding is that the ability of certain sweet potato varieties to revert to healthy is associated with an RNA silencing mechanism |
Exploitation Route | By being incorporated more widely into sweet potato breeding programs |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink |
Description | The results of the research are being used by breeding programs in Africa, specifically those of the International Potato Center and the Ugandan national program |
First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | PEARL award |
Amount | $468,000 (USD) |
Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start | 07/2014 |
End | 08/2017 |