Insect transmission of plant viruses: a constraint on virus variability.
Genetic diversity in viruses is shaped by high rates of recombination and is constrained by host defenses and the requirements of transmission. Recent studies of insect-transmitted plant viruses demonstrate highly conserved molecular motifs in viral genomes that regulate the specificity of insect transmission. In contrast, advances in our understanding of host plant response to virus infection reveal some generalized patterns of host defense to a diversity of viruses.
Power
A G
AG
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, USA. agp4@cornell.edu
D000818:Animals; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D017791:Geminiviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology*; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology*; D010942:Plant Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D010944:Plants / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000821:virology*; D017800:Potyvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity