loading page

Virome characterization of native wild-rice plants discovers a novel pathogenic rice Polerovirus with world-wide circulation
  • +9
  • Wenkai Yan,
  • Yu Zhu,
  • Chengwu Zou,
  • Wencheng Liu,
  • Bei Jia,
  • Jiangshuai Niu,
  • Yaogui Zhou,
  • Bao-Shan Chen,
  • Rongbai Li,
  • Shou-Wei Ding,
  • Qingfa Wu,
  • Zhongxin Guo
Wenkai Yan
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Author Profile
Yu Zhu
University of Science and Technology of China School of Life Sciences
Author Profile
Chengwu Zou
Guangxi University
Author Profile
Wencheng Liu
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Author Profile
Bei Jia
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Author Profile
Jiangshuai Niu
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Author Profile
Yaogui Zhou
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Author Profile
Bao-Shan Chen
Guangxi University
Author Profile
Rongbai Li
Guangxi University
Author Profile
Shou-Wei Ding
University of California
Author Profile
Qingfa Wu
University of Science and Technology of China School of Life Sciences
Author Profile
Zhongxin Guo
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile

Abstract

Pandemics originating from zoonotic viruses have posed significant threats to human health and agriculture. Recent discoveries have revealed that wild-rice plants also harbor viral pathogens capable of severely impacting rice production, a cornerstone food crop. In this study, we conducted virome analysis on ~1000 wild-rice individual colonies and discovered a novel single-strand positive-sense RNA virus prevalent in these plants. Through comprehensive genomic characterization and comparative sequence analysis, this virus was classified as a new species in the genus Polerovirus, designated Rice less tiller virus (RLTV). Our investigations elucidated that RLTV could be transmitted from wild-rice to cultivated rice via a specific insect vector, the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi, causing less tiller disease symptoms in rice plants. We generated an infectious cDNA clone for RLTV and demonstrated systemic infection of rice cultivars and induction of severe disease symptoms following mechanical inoculation or stable genetic transformation. We further illustrated transmission of RLTV from stable transgenic lines to healthy rice plants by the aphid vector, leading to the development of disease symptoms. Notably, our database searches showed that RLTV and another polerovirus isolated from a wild plant species are widely circulating not only in wild rice but also cultivated rice around the world. Our findings provide strong evidence for a wild plant origin for rice viruses and underscore the imminent threat posed by aphid-transmitted rice Polerovirus to rice cultivar.
30 Jul 2024Submitted to Plant, Cell & Environment
31 Jul 2024Submission Checks Completed
31 Jul 2024Assigned to Editor
31 Jul 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Aug 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
20 Aug 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
09 Sep 20241st Revision Received
10 Sep 2024Submission Checks Completed
10 Sep 2024Assigned to Editor
10 Sep 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
11 Sep 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
29 Sep 2024Editorial Decision: Accept