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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Wooster, Ohio » Corn, Soybean and Wheat Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #262888
Title: Viroids and Phloem-limited Viruses: Unique Molecular Probes of Phloem Biology

Author
item Stewart, Lucy
item DING, BIAO - The Ohio State University
item FALK, BRYCE - University Of California

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/13/2012
Publication Date: 11/1/2012
Citation: Stewart, L.R., Ding, B., Falk, B.W. 2012. Viroids and phloem-limited viruses: unique molecular probes of phloem biology. In: Thompson G.A., van Bel, A.J.E., editors. Phloem: molecular cell biology, systemic communication, biotic interactions. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. p. 271-292.

Interpretive Summary: This chapter will be included in the new textbook “Phloem Biochemistry” describing the state of the art understanding of the plant phloem transport system. The portion on viroids and phloem-limited viruses includes current knowledge on how these intracellular plant parasites interact with and utilize host phloem systems for replication and long-distance transport thoughout host plants, and how they can be used as molecular tools to experimentally to understand phloem biology.

Technical Abstract: Viroids and phloem-limited viruses are intracellular parasites move systemically in host plant phloem.These features make them unique molecular probes to discover mechanisms of phloem long-distance movement. In this chapter, we describe current knowledge of long-distance movement and proteins facilitating this process for phloem-limited viruses of the families Closteroviridae and Luteoviridae, and also present current knowledge of systemic movement of viroids. Experiments to date with viroids and phloem-limited viruses answer key questions about phloem biology, while unresolved issues raise fundamental questions in phloem biology that future experiments can address.