Role of RNA and ssDNA Viruses in Plant–Virus/Viroid Interactions

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Pest and Disease Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 543

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Departamento de Biología Celular, Genética y Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
Interests: RNA and ssDNA plant viruses; virus variability; virus evolution; virology

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Guest Editor
Centro de Supercomputación y Bioinnovación (SCBI), Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
Interests: microbiology; genetics; bioinformatics; molecular biology; virus evolution; viral population

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Guest Editor
Cellular Biology, Genetics and Animal Physiology Department, University of Malaga, 29010 Malaga, Spain
Interests: tandem repeats; trinucleotide repeats; microsatellite; minisatellite; repeat expansion; DNA instability; DNA replication; DNA repair; replication slippage
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

RNA and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) play pivotal roles in plant–virus and plant–viroid interactions, significantly influencing plant health and agricultural productivity. Understanding these interactions is essential for developing innovative strategies to manage plant diseases caused by these pathogens. This Special Issue seeks to compile cutting-edge research on the multifaceted roles of RNA and ssDNA in plant–virus/viroid interactions, including the molecular mechanisms of replication, host–pathogen interactions, virus and viroid evolution, and the latest bioinformatics approaches to study these processes.

We invite original research articles, comprehensive reviews, case studies, and perspectives that explore various aspects of RNA and ssDNA in plant–viral/viroid interactions. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the molecular dynamics of RNA and ssDNA replication, mechanisms of plant defense responses, virus and viroid transmission and evolution, including co-infection of viruses, recombination, and generation of virus and viroid variability, and the impact of these pathogens on plant physiology and crop yield. Additionally, contributions that utilize advanced bioinformatics tools to elucidate the genetic and epigenetic landscapes of these interactions are highly encouraged.

By bringing together diverse expertise and insights, this Special Issue aims to enhance our understanding of plant–virus/viroid biology and foster the development of effective disease management strategies. We welcome researchers and experts from various disciplines to contribute their valuable findings and perspectives to this comprehensive collection.

Prof. Dr. Ana Grande-Perez
Dr. Luis Díaz-Martinez
Prof. Dr. Enrique Viguera
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • RNA
  • ssDNA
  • plant–virus interactions
  • virus/viroid evolution
  • host–pathogen interactions
  • plant defense response
  • sequence analysis/bioinformatics

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

24 pages, 3411 KiB  
Article
Virus–Host Interactions and Genetic Exchange in Mixed Infections of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV), Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus (ToLCNDV), and Tomato Chlorosis Virus (ToCV)
by Isabel M. Fortes, Luis Díaz-Martínez, Enrique Moriones and Ana Grande-Pérez
Agronomy 2025, 15(5), 1006; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15051006 - 22 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), and tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) are emerging viruses that cause significant damage to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). TYLCV and ToLCNDV are single-stranded DNA viruses from the genus Begomovirus, [...] Read more.
Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), and tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) are emerging viruses that cause significant damage to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). TYLCV and ToLCNDV are single-stranded DNA viruses from the genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae, while ToCV is an RNA virus from the genus Crinivirus (family Closteroviridae). These viruses share overlapping geographic ranges, vectors (the whitefly Bemisia tabaci), and host plants, making mixed infections common. This study investigated interactions between TYLCV and ToLCNDV and between ToLCNDV and ToCV in mixed infections of susceptible and TYLCV-resistant tomato genotypes. We evaluated infection, disease development, trans-replication of genome components, and genetic exchange. Our results showed no significant synergistic or antagonistic interactions, complementation, or interference between the viruses. TYLCV resistance in tomato genotypes remained stable. The DNA-B component of ToLCNDV exhibited impaired functionality and was not complemented by TYLCV. No evidence was found that the crinivirus tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) enhances ToLCNDV infection, suggesting limited interactions despite shared vectors. Genetic exchange was detected in defective DNA (def-DNA) molecules using high-throughput sequencing (HTS), indicating potential genetic interactions between these viruses. These findings suggest that mixed infections do not pose immediate concerns for increased pathogenicity but highlight the ecological implications of genetic exchange, warranting further study of the evolutionary consequences of such interactions in mixed-virus environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of RNA and ssDNA Viruses in Plant–Virus/Viroid Interactions)
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