tomato chlorosis virus gene changes

Plant research glimpse: New study provides insights into gene expression dynamics in tomato plants infected with Tomato chlorosis virus

In a new edition of our “Plant research glimpse” series, we highlight a recently published paper of VIRTIGATION partners CSIC and CRAG in the Viruses journal, which explored how the genes in tomato plants change over time after an infection with the Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV).

ToCV: a devastating crinivirus spread by Bemisia tabaci

The Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) is an emergent crinivirus that causes a yellow leaf disorder in tomatoes, including interveinal yellowing chlorotic areas, thickening of leaves, and bronzing and necrosis of the older leaves. ToCV has caused widespread devastation in both tomatoes and cucurbits, leading to serious economic losses in crop yield and quality. This plant virus has a bipartite genome of positive single-stranded RNA and, like many other criniviruses, is restricted to phloem-associated cells and transmitted in a semi-persistent manner by whiteflies, especially by the Bemisia tabaci whitefly. Furthermore, it has been recently demonstrated that ToCV, when present in a mixed infection with the Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV, also transmitted by the Bemisia tabaci), might result in a synergistic interaction disease that could have an even more detrimental impact on tomato and cucurbit production. 

Exploring potential resistance mechanisms through study of early-stage molecular responses to ToCV

The new paper authored by the CSIC and CRAG scientists examined how the genes in tomato plants change over time after they get infected with the crinivirus ToCV. To achieve this objective, they used a technique called RNA-seq to analyze the global changes occurring after the inoculation of the virus, and understand how the tomato plants respond to the infection. The CSIC and CRAG researchers identified and grouped important genes responding to ToCV infection, and classified them into functional pathways, providing a better understanding of how this particular virus causes disease and how the plant’s immune system responds. Thanks to this approach, they noticed that certain genes related to the defense mechanisms of plants, like Hsp90 (heat shock protein 90) and its partner Sgt1 (suppressor of the G2 allele of Skp1), might play a role in the plant’s natural ability to resist viral infections.

tomato chlorosis virus genes rna seq
Summary infographic of RNA-seq technique used by the CSIC and CRAG investigators for their ToCV study © 2016 Thomas Shafee - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52065926

New effective disease control strategies on the horizon

Through their publication, the CSIC and CRAG scientists improves current understanding of ToCV infections in tomato, helping to find genes involved in defense mechanisms as promising options for future breeding programs. These genes might be targeted to develop new strategies for controlling the disease, which would support value chain actors in better addressing the ToCV impact on their tomato and cucurbit crops. 

More info about CSIC and CRAG's new ToCV study

The full version of CSIC and CRAG’s study in the Viruses journal titled “Enhanced Susceptibility to Tomato Chlorosis Virus (ToCV) in Hsp90- and Sgt1-Silenced Plants: Insights from Gene Expression Dynamics” is available online here since 30 November 2023. It has been authored by one of CSIC’s principal investigators in VIRTIGATION, Juan Antonio Díaz-Pendón, as well as CRAG’s principal project investigators Juan José López-Moya and Irene Ontiveros. The dataset underlying CSIC and CRAG’s peer-reviewed, open access scientific publication is available in the VIRTIGATION Zenodo community. Find out more about VIRTIGATION’s scientific publications on our website here.