Cucumber Mosaic Virus as a carotenoid inhibitor reducing Phelipanche aegyptiaca infection in tobacco plants

Mwafaq Ibdah, Neeraj Kumar Dubey, Hanan Eizenberg, Ziad Dabour, Jacklin Abu-Nassar, Amit Gal-On, Radi Aly

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) is a highly infectious cucumovirus, which infects more than 800 plant species and causes major diseases in greenhouse and field crops worldwide. Parasitic weeds such as Phelipanche aegyptiaca are a major constraint to the production of many crops in the world and the parasite’s lifestyle makes control extremely difficult. The parasite seeds can germinate after conditioning and perceiving strigolactones secreted by the host roots. Strigolactones are rhizosphere signaling molecules in plants that are biosynthesized through carotenoid cleavage. In the present study we investigated the possibility of reducing b-carotene and then strigolactone production in the host roots by blocking carotenoid biosynthesis using CMV-infected tobacco. It was found that CMV downregulated the enzyme phytoene desaturase(PDS) and reduced significantly both carotenoid production and Phelipanche infection in tobacco host roots infected with both CMV and P. aegyptiaca. Based on our results (decrease of b-carotene and repression of PDS transcripts in tobacco roots), we hypothesized that the reduction of Phelipanche tubercles and shoots occurred due to an effect of CMV on secondary metabolite stimulators such as strigolacetones. Our study indicated that mass production of the host roots was not affected by CMV; however, most inflorescences of Phelipanche grown on CMV-infected tobacco developed abnormally (deformed shoots and short nodes). Carotenoid biosynthesis inhibitors such as CMV can be used to reduce the production of strigolactones, which will lead to decreased Phelipanche attachment. Interestingly, attenuated CMV strains may provide a safe means for enhancing crop resistance against parasitic weeds in a future plan.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere972146
Pages (from-to)1-6
Number of pages6
JournalPlant Signaling and Behavior
Volume9
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 22 Dec 2014
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Keywords

  • Carotenoid
  • Cucumber Mosaic Virus
  • Phelipanche aegyptiaca
  • Phytoene desaturase
  • Strigolactones

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Plant Science

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