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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #422011
Research Project: Identifying Vulnerabilities in Vector-host-pathogen Interactions of Grapevine and Citrus Pathosystems to Advance Sustainable Management Strategies

Location: Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research

Title: Exploring the boundaries of engineering Citrus yellow vein clearing virus genome by inserting an exotic gene cassette

Author
item Sun, Yongduo
item Helm-Rodriguez, Sydney
item Yokomi, Raymond

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/23/2025
Publication Date: 3/16/2025
Citation: Sun, Y., Helm-Rodriguez, S.D., Yokomi, R.K. 2025. Exploring the boundaries of engineering Citrus yellow vein clearing virus genome by inserting an exotic gene cassette. Meeting Abstract. Presented at the International Organization of Citrus Virologist XXIII Conference in Mildura, Victoria, Australia from March 16-20,2025.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) poses a significant threat to California's citrus industry. Infected lemon trees exhibit characteristic symptoms such as yellow vein clearing, water-soaked leaf appearance, and leaf deformities. However, our understanding of CYVCV pathogenesis is limited, including its host range and the specific host cells it colonizes. To develop fundamental knowledge on CYVCV, an infectious clone of a California isolate was constructed. Agrobacterium-mediated infiltration revealed that the wild CYVCV-type CYVCV infectious clone could infect a broad spectrum of citrus cultivars. However, our infectious clone only induced local infection in Nicotiana benthamiana with no systemic spread observed. Various approaches to modify the CYVCV infectious clone were performed with limited success. For example, modified vectors incorporating TGB3-GFP, NB-GFP, or free GFP between TGB3 and CP failed to produce infections. A vector with GFP inserted at the 3' end resulted in mild GFP expression in N. benthamiana but did not establish infection in citrus plants. Exploring further vector construction based on the CYVCV genome by inserting foreign genes is crucial for studying CYVCV's tissue tropism, specifically identifying the host cells it colonizes. This research will contribute to understanding virus transmission dynamics among different hosts.