Molecular Plant Pathology (2008) 9, 447-461

Blanca Gosalvez-Bernal, Ainhoa Genoves, Jose Antonio Navarro, Vicente Pallas and M. Amelia Sanchez-Pina (2008)
Distribution and pathway for phloem-dependent movement of melon necrotic spot virus in melon plants
Molecular Plant Pathology 9 (4), 447-461
Abstract: The translocation of Melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV) within tissues of inoculated and systemically infected Cucumis melo L. 'Galia' was studied by tissue-printing and in situ hybridization techniques. The results were compatible with the phloem vascular components being used to spread MNSV systemically by the same assimilate transport route that runs from source to sink organs. Virus RNAs were shown to move from the inoculated cotyledon toward the hypocotyl and root system via the external phloem, whereas the upward spread through the stem to the young tissues took place via the internal phloem. Virus infection was absent from non-inoculated source tissues as well as from both shoot and root apical meristems, but active sink tissues such as the young leaves and root system were highly infected. Finally, our results suggest that the MNSV invasion of roots is due to virus replication although a destination-selective process is probably necessary to explain the high levels of virus accumulation in roots. This efficient invasion of the root system is discussed in terms of natural transmission of MNSV by the soil-borne fungal vector.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Maria Amelia Sanchez-Pina, Vicente Pallas

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
molecular biology - genes
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Gammacarmovirus melonis	Melon (Cucumis melo)