Molecular mechanism of germplasm deterioration of Pseudostellaria heterophylla

There were some critical problems were encountered in the production of Pseudostellaria heterophylla (P. heterophylla), especially viral disease of P. heterophylla that gradually restricted growth of P. heterophylla. More seriously, during cultivation of P. heterophylla its tuberous roots were as propagated materials. These viruses infected P. heterophylla were continuously transmitted from one generation to next generation by tuberous roots, spreading rapidly throughout whole field. Tuberous roots used as propagated materials carried the numerous virus resulted in gradual loss of many fine characters specific to cultivar and the instability of varieties. In this project, vsRNA based methods provided an important chance for identifying pathogens of P. heterophylla mosaic virus disease and clarifying the roles of virus during germplasm deterioration of P. heterophylla .