Plant virology in the 21st century in China: Recent advances and future directions
Jianguo Wu, Yongliang Zhang, Fangfang Li, Xiaoming Zhang, Jian Ye, Tàiyún Wèi, Zhenghe Li, Xiaorong Tao, Feng Cui, Xianbing Wang, Lili Zhang, Fei Yan, Shifang Li, Yule Liu, Dawei Li, Xueping Zhou, Yi Li
Abstract
Plant viruses are a group of intracellular pathogens that persistently threaten global food security. Significant advances in plant virology have been achieved by Chinese scientists over the last 20 years, including basic research and technologies for preventing and controlling plant viral diseases. Here, we review these milestones and advances, including the identification of new crop-infecting viruses, dissection of pathogenic mechanisms of multiple viruses, examination of multilayered interactions among viruses, their host plants, and virus-transmitting arthropod vectors, and in-depth interrogation of plant-encoded resistance and susceptibility determinants. Notably, various plant virus-based vectors have also been successfully developed for gene function studies and target gene expression in plants. We also recommend future plant virology studies in China.