Salicylic acid and RNA interference mediate antiviral immunity of plant stem cells

Salicylic acid-driven innate antiviral immunity in plants

Pathogenic viruses are a constant threat to all organisms, including plants. However, in plants, a small group of cells (stem cells) protect themselves from viral invasion. Recently, Incarbone et al. uncovered a novel salicylic acid (SA) and RNAi mechanism of stem cell resistance, broadening our understanding of RNAi-mediated antiviral plant immunity.

Trans-Species Mobility of RNA Interference between Plants and Associated Organisms

Trans-species RNA interference (RNAi) occurs naturally when small RNAs (sRNAs) silence genes in species different from their origin. This phenomenon has been observed between plants and various organisms including fungi, animals and other plant species. Understanding the mechanisms used in natural cases of trans-species RNAi, such as sRNA processing and movement, will enable more effective development of crop protection methods using host-induced gene silencing (HIGS). Recent progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms of cell-to-cell and long-distance movement of sRNAs within individual plants. This increased understanding of endogenous plant sRNA movement may be translatable to trans-species sRNA movement. Here, we review diverse cases of natural trans-species RNAi focusing on current theories regarding intercellular and long-distance sRNA movement. We also touch on trans-species sRNA evolution, highlighting its research potential and its role in improving the efficacy of HIGS.

Antiviral defense in plant stem cells

Undifferentiated plant and animal stem cells are essential for cell, tissue, and organ differentiation, development, and growth. They possess unusual antiviral immunity which differs from that in specialized cells. By comparison to animal stem cells, we discuss how plant stem cells defend against viral invasion and beyond.

A novel ilarvirus protein CP-RT is expressed via stop codon readthrough and suppresses RDR6-dependent RNA silencing

Ilarviruses are a relatively understudied but important group of plant RNA viruses that includes a number of crop pathogens. Their genomes comprise three RNA segments encoding two replicase subunits, movement protein, coat protein (CP), and (in some ilarvirus subgroups) a protein that suppresses RNA silencing. Here we report that, in many ilarviruses, RNA3 encodes an additional protein (termed CP-RT) as a result of ribosomal readthrough of the CP stop codon into a short downstream readthrough (RT) ORF. Using asparagus virus 2 as a model, we find that CP-RT is expressed in planta where it functions as a weak suppressor of RNA silencing. CP-RT expression is essential for persistent systemic infection in leaves and shoot apical meristem. CP-RT function is dependent on a putative zinc-finger motif within RT. Replacing the asparagus virus 2 RT with the RT of an ilarvirus from a different subgroup restored the ability to establish persistent infection. These findings open up a new avenue for research on ilarvirus silencing suppression, persistent meristem invasion and vertical transmission.

A resilient bunch: stem cell antiviral immunity in plants

Stem cells are vital for plant development and reproduction. The stem cells within shoot apical meristems are known to possess exceptionally effective antiviral defenses against pathogenic viruses which preclude their infection, yet how this is achieved remains poorly understood and scarcely investigated. In this Tansley Insight, we connect very recent experimental results with previous work to summarize the known molecular mechanisms determining stem cell antiviral immunity. More broadly, we attempt to define the viral features triggering immunity and the global consequences of virus infection in these essential cells. This brief article will highlight how these phenomena are fascinating, complex and often crucial for virus-host interactions, while emphasizing the potential for discovery in their investigation.