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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Ithaca, New York » Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture & Health » Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #405897

Research Project: Management and Biology of Arthropod Pests and Arthropod-borne Plant Pathogens

Location: Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research

Title: Potato leafroll virus molecular interactions with plants and aphids: gaining a new tactical advantage on an old foe

Author
item OLMEDO-VELARDE, ALEJANDRO - Cornell University
item Wilson, Jennifer - Jenny
item STALLONE, MARTIN - Cornell University
item Deblasio, Stacy
item CHAPPIE, JOSHUA - Cornell University
item Heck, Michelle

Submitted to: Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2023
Publication Date: 4/3/2023
Citation: Olmedo-Velarde, A., Wilson, J.R., Stallone, M., Deblasio, S.L., Chappie, J.S., Heck, M.L. 2023. Potato leafroll virus molecular interactions with plants and aphids: gaining a new tactical advantage on an old foe. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmpp.2023.102015.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmpp.2023.102015

Interpretive Summary: Plant viruses that are spread by insects share common biological features that make them difficult to study and challenging to manage in the field. Insecticides that control the insect vector are commonly used, but broad-spectrum insecticides are harmful to pollinators and do not adequately control the spread of the viruses that are transmitted by insects. Potato leafroll virus (PLRV) infects potato and is spread by aphids in potato production systems. There are a range of new biological tools available to study PLRV, and these have been used to glean new insights into PLRV plant infection and aphid spread and the development of new diagnostic tools. These new data may be transformative for the development of targeted, sustainable PLRV management practices.

Technical Abstract: Potato leafroll virus is a member of the genus Polerovirus in the family Solemoviridae. Potato leafroll virus (PLRV) is exclusively transmitted by aphids in nature. The coat protein and readthrough protein constitute the structural components the form the icosahedral capsids of assembled virions. Recent advances have revealed the structure of the virion as well as molecular interactions among the virus, host, and vector. While planting certified virus-free seed is the best way to ensure a healthy crop, extensive molecular tools are now available to develop alternative approaches for PLRV management.