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POSTERS: Molecular/Cellular Plant‐Microbe Interactions I

P-381 - Investigation of RNAi-Based Control of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus for a Durable Management Strategy

Monday, August 4, 2025
4:30 PM - 5:15 PM HST
Location: Exhibit Hall 3

    Presenting Author(s)

  • WT

    Wei-An Tsai

    Postdoctoral research fellow
    Univ of Queensland
    Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    • Author(s)

  • SV

    Sokmean Vann

    Univ of Queensland
    Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

  • SF

    Stephen Fletcher

    QAAFI University of Queensland
    St Lucia, Queensland, Australia

  • DP

    Denis Persley

    Senior Principal Plant Pathologist
    Department of Primary Industries
    Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

  • NM

    Narelle Manzie

    Science manager
    Univ of Queensland
    Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

  • CB

    Chris Brosnan

    Senior Research Fellow
    QAAFI, University of Queensland
    St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

  • NM

    Neena Mitter

    Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice President
    charles sturt univ
    Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Abstract Text:

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), a Begomovirus transmitted by the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), threatens global tomato production. In Australia, TYLCV-Israel was first detected in 2006 in southeast Queensland and now occurs in all production areas. While Ty-1 resistant hybrids have been effective, typical TYLCV symptoms in the resistant variety SV0215TH have been identified recently in Australia. To explore alternative control strategies for increasing resistance durability, spray-induced RNA interference was tested using dsRNA targeting viral V1 and C3 genes. Tomato plants were pre-treated with dsRNA alone, additive alone, or a combination, followed by whitefly-mediated TYLCV infection. At 12 days post-inoculation (dpi), targeted dsRNA alone did not significantly reduce viral load, whereas the combined dsRNA and additive reduced symptoms and viral titre. Pathogenesis-related (PR) protein1, critical in plant defence responses, serves as an early infection marker. The levels of PR1 increased in plants receiving the combined treatment without virus infection. In infected plants at 12 dpi, PR1 levels across all treatments increased to levels comparable to virus-free combined treatment groups, suggesting PR1 induction by the combined treatments may be an indicator of effective virus defence. This study provides the first evidence that combined application of dsRNA and additive reduces symptoms, indicating its potential as an integrated management strategy. Further analysis is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and improve tomato resilience against TYLCV.