viral-resistance
Viral resistance in plants is the ability to prevent, limit, or recover from viral infections through natural genetic traits or engineered mechanisms. This is critical for plant science because viral diseases significantly reduce crop yields and quality across global agriculture. Developing and understanding viral resistance helps ensure food security and agricultural sustainability while reducing dependence on chemical interventions.
PubMed · 2026-03-24
Researchers discovered how plant viruses manipulate a protein called IAA16 to simultaneously suppress plant growth and disease defenses. This finding reveals a potential target for breeding crops that maintain both vigor and disease resistance, addressing a major constraint in agriculture.
The viral βC1 protein blocks the degradation of IAA16 protein by inhibiting ATL52-mediated ubiquitination, allowing viruses to suppress plant defenses.
IAA16 acts as a dual negative regulator controlling both growth-promoting auxin signals and immunity-boosting salicylic acid signals.
The viral manipulation mechanism is conserved across plant species, including tomato, suggesting broad applicability for crop improvement strategies.
