WSU Researcher Look At Preventing Viral Infection Crop Loss

Washington State University researchers says they may have discovered one of the key secrets to preventing crop loss through viral infections. A recent USDA study published in Frontiers in Plant Science looked at how viral proteins work together to impact a host plant's defenses. Some damaging viruses, such as the Croton yellow vein mosaic virus, use an assortment of proteins to attack a host. Senior author Hanu Pappu said plants and diseases are locked into a never-ending “arms race”.

"Pathogens, in this cases viruses, need a living host so they continuously try to attack and feed off of a host plant. The host, through the process of evolution, dial up a defense system to fight back."

A molecular defense called RNAi, or RNA interference, is used by plants to keep viruses from infecting host cells. Viruses then developed molecules called 'silencing suppressor proteins' to negate RNAi. Most viruses only make a single protein to bring down a plant's defenses. However, some viruses like the Croton yellow vein mosaic rely on multiple proteins working together to get the job done. When just some of the proteins were disabled, the virus was unable to move from one cell to another.

Hanu said his research is still in its early stages, but the payoff could be extremely profitable for growers.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, more than a billion dollars in food, feed and fiber crops are lost to viral infections annually worldwide.

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