Analysis of the Mechanism of Pathogenicity Decline in Alternaria alternata f. sp. mali Mediated by the Mycovirus AaCV1
Apple leaf blotch disease caused by Alternaria alternata is a destructive fungal disease worldwide. Previous studies showed that the hypovirulent phenotype of strain QY21 is associated with infection by Alternaria alternata chrysovirus 1 (AaCV1). To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying virus-induced hypovirulence, transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed on Alternaria alternata strains under different genetic and treatment conditions, including AaCV1-associated hypovirulent strain QY21, viral protein overexpression strains (P2 and P3), and host gene mutant strains.