From virus-disrupted photosynthesis and identification of chloroplastic stress-sensors exploited by a virus to sustainable control of potato mop-top virus

Potato is the leading non-grain commodity in the global food system. Worldwide, pathogens and pests are causing potato losses of 8% to 21%. The viruses are the second, after fungi, greatest contributors to those losses.

In Sweden, ‘potato spraing’ disease caused by potato mop-top (PMTV) virus results in economic losses estimated at 80-100 million SEK/year. The virus and its protist vector are not controlled by agrochemicals and there are no sources of resistance to PMTV. Therefore, here we propose a multidisciplinary research program aiming at improving virus control measures.

We will build upon our recent discoveries revealing unprecedented suppression of the genes encoding chloroplastic proteins upon PMTV infection (according to our RNA-seq data) and localisation of a virus movement protein and viral RNA into chloroplast. We hypothesize that PMTV subverts chloroplast-mediated defence responses to facilitate virus movement in plants.

We aim to identify chloroplastic stress-sensors exploited by the virus to establish systemic infection.

Finally, we will explore whether targeted modifications (gene editing) of the identified targets of viral virulence factors can be utilised to design next-generation virus-resistant plants without disruptive effect on photosynthesis.

Overall, the knowledge gained in this project will enhance our understanding of plant-virus interactions and plant immunity, and will be important for the development of crops with improved disease resistance.