The capacity of viruses to spread within the plant therefore provides a tractable system for dissection of nucleic movement. In one set of experiments microprojectile bombardment of movement-deficient viral mutants was used to initiate infection in a single cell. Co-bombardment with a plasmid encoding a complementing wildtype product resulted in rescued viral movement to the adjacent cell. This indicated that the encoded protein lacked the capacity to move between cells. We have used this approach to show that White clover mosaic virus moves between cells as a complex with two separate viral proteins.
Plants defend themselves against pathogens.
Plants will mount a specific and targeted response to destroy an invading virus. A phloem mobile signal is associated with this process to warn distant tissues of the coming viral invader. Surprisingly, this signalling system cannot penetrate the apex of the plant. The Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand Limited. All rights reserved.