Subviral agents associated with plant single-stranded DNA viruses.
Begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae) are responsible for many economically important crop diseases worldwide. The majority of these diseases are caused by bipartite begomovirus infections, although a rapidly growing number of diseases of the Old World are associated with monopartite begomoviruses. With the exception of several diseases of tomato, most of these are caused by a monopartite begomovirus in association with a recently discovered essential satellite component (DNA-beta). These begomovirus/satellite disease complexes are widespread and diverse and collectively infect a wide variety of crops, weeds and ornamental plants. Non-essential subviral components (DNA-1) originating from nanoviruses are frequently associated with these disease complexes, and there are tantalizing hints that further novel satellites may also be associated with some begomovirus diseases. DNA-beta components can be maintained in permissive plants by more than one distinct begomovirus, reflecting less stringent requirements for trans-replication that will undoubtedly encourage diversification and adaptation as a consequence of component exchange and recombination. In view of their impact on agriculture, there is a pressing need to develop a more comprehensive picture of the diversity and distribution of the disease complexes. A greater understanding of how they elicit the host response may provide useful information for their control as well as an insight into plant developmental processes.
Briddon
R W
RW
Plant Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Stanley
J
J
D000383:Agriculture; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004276:DNA, Satellite / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017791:Geminiviridae / Q000235:genetics; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D010942:Plant Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D004276:DNA, Satellite; D004279:DNA, Viral