Open AccessEVOLUTION OF PLANT VIRUSES: ADAPTATION TO HOSTS AND VECTORS
Author(s) -
Jari P. T. Valkonen
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
èkologičeskaâ genetika
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.148
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 2411-9202
pISSN - 1811-0932
DOI - 10.17816/ecogen6213-16
Subject(s) - biology , plasmodesma , adaptation (eye) , host (biology) , plant virus , viral evolution , genome , obligate , virology , viral replication , virus , vector (molecular biology) , genetics , geminiviridae , gene , botany , cell , begomovirus , neuroscience , recombinant dna
Viruses are obligate molecular pathogens. They depend on living host cells for their multiplication, including synthesis of the viral nucleic acids and proteins. The infection cycle of viruses in plants includes three main phases: i) replication, ii) cell to cell movement via plasmodesmata, and iii) long distance movement to different parts of the plant. During all these steps of the infection cycle viruses are challenged by the genetic variability of their hosts, which requires the virus to be adjusted to minor or major differences in virus-host interactions. These adjustments require mutations in the viral genome. Most plant viruses are also dependent on vector organisms for their spread to new host plants. The changes in virus genomes for better adaptability to the host should not compromise vector-transmissibility of progeny viruses. Host adaptation and vector adaptation can therefore be seen as the main forces influencing plant virus evolution.