Biological Methods of Plant Protection against Viruses: Problems and Prospects

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ogical Methods of Plant Protection against Viruses: Problems and Prospects I. V. Maksimova, *, A. V. Sorokana, M. Yu. Sheina, and R. M. Khairullina aInstitute

of Biochemistry and Genetics, Ufa Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ufa, 450054 Russia *e-mail: [email protected] Received March 31, 2020; revised May 24, 2020; accepted July 2, 2020

Abstract—Viral diseases cause significant crop losses and a deterioration in the quality of agricultural products. There are currently no direct methods with antiviral agents to protect plants from viruses circulating in agroecosystems. Control measures focus on the selection of varieties that are resistant to viral diseases, the improvement of varieties via the cultivation of apical meristems, and control of the number of insect vectors. The review describes modern approaches to plant protection against viruses via genome editing, regulation of the expression of the host plant and/or viral genes via RNA interference, and the formation of an artificial consortium of plants with rhizospheric and/or endophytic microorganisms that combine protective activity and immunomodulating potential. Keywords: plant viruses, plant growth–promoting microorganisms, antiviral activity, RNAse, systemic acquired resistance, biocontrol DOI: 10.1134/S0003683820060101

Viruses are unique, disease-causing agents that can use the genetic apparatus of the host for reproduction and recycling in nature. Due to their pathogenic properties, the protection of humans, domestic animals, cultivated plants, and industrial microorganisms from viral infections is one of the most important challenges of our time [1]. Cultivated plants are affected by at least 450 types of viruses [2] that greatly reduce the level their biological productivity and commercial qualities [3, 4]. Viral infection is one of the reasons for the “variety degeneration” that inevitably occurs when crops are cultivated without special seed production and variety renewal [5]. Table 1 shows the abbreviations for the viral diseases discussed in the review. The seed-industry complex restores the genetically programmed biological potential of a cultivar and its release from viruses in crop production. This complex carries out measures for the chemical and biological protection of plants from viruses and their vectors, compliance with agricultural technology (the selection of planting and harvesting dates, compliance with crop rotation, weed control, etc.), the clonal selection of plants, biotechnological rehabilitation, and the reproduction of virus-free material with the use of in vitro culture [6]. At the same time, the modern technology for original seed production, e.g., virus-free potatoes, which is based solely on the isolation and regeneration of virus-free apical meristems, is insufficient. As the initially virus-free sterile planting material reproduces, it becomes infected mechanically or

through damage by various vectors (pathogenic microorganisms, nematodes, and insects) under field conditions (3–5 years). The t