Arabidopsis ecotypes infected with TVCV and TuMV

We previously characterized a new isolate of Turnip vein-clearing virus (TVCV-ApH), a crucifer-infecting tobamovirus that caused severe leaf deformation (upward curling leaves) on the Bur-0 ecotype of Arabidopsis thaliana, but not on Col-0 ecotype. We also observed this ecotype-specific leaf deformation in the case of turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) infection. These observations suggested that there are genetic differences in the hosts that determine this response. We also expected that this differential regulation will manifest in the transcriptome or sRNAome profiles and by comparing these profiles we will be able to find the host factors responsible for the ecotype-specific symptom development. Indeed, the comparative transcriptome analysis of the TVCV-, TuMV- and mock-infected Col-0 and Bur-0 plants resulted in a few candidate genes that could be responsible for the leaf deformation. Some of these genes are known regulators of leaf polarity while others may represent novel, ecotype-specific functions in leaf development or other biological processes that are commonly disturbed by TVCV and TuMV infection.