title: Taxonomy, biogeography and importance of Heterobasidion viruses.
abstract: The genus Heterobasidion consists of several species of necrotrophic and saprotrophic fungi, and includes some of the most detrimental organisms in boreal conifer forests. These fungi host a widespread and diverse mycovirus community composed of more than 16 species of Partitiviridae, a species of Narnaviridae and one taxonomically unassigned virus related to the Curvularia thermal tolerance virus. These viruses are able to cross species borders, co-infect single host strains and cause phenotypic changes in their hosts. The abundance of viruses increases over time in Heterobasidion infection centers, and they are targeted by fungal RNA interference. Long-term field studies are essential for obtaining a comprehensive view of virus effects in the nature.
authors.affiliation: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Jokiniemenkuja 1, POB 18, 01301 Vantaa, Finland. Electronic address: eeva.vainio@luke.fi.
authors.forename: Eeva J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Vainio
authors.affiliation: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Jokiniemenkuja 1, POB 18, 01301 Vantaa, Finland. Electronic address: jarkko.hantula@luke.fi.
authors.forename: Jarkko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hantula
mesh_terms: D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology*; D016468:Forestry; D000067148:Fungal Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D005819:Genetic Markers; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D010802:Phylogeny; D058974:Phylogeography; D034622:RNA Interference; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D014764:Viral Proteins
keywords: Biocontrol; Mycovirus; RNAi; Virus taxonomy; Virus transmissibility; Wood decay