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Chrysoviruses in Magnaporthe oryzae

Hiromitsu Moriyama1, Syun-Ichi Urayama2, Tomoya Higashiura3

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Applied Biological Sciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8, Saiwaicho, Fuchu, Tokyo 184-8509, Japan. hmori714@cc.tuat.ac.jp.

Viruses
|December 15, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Mycoviruses infecting the destructive rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, can alter its pathogenicity. Certain chrysoviruses (MoCV1-A, MoCV1-B) induce hypovirulence and physiological diversity, impacting fungal growth and race development.

Area of Science:

  • Plant Pathology
  • Mycology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Magnaporthe oryzae is a devastating global pathogen of rice, responsible for significant crop losses.
  • Several mycoviruses have been identified within M. oryzae, including victoriviruses, partitiviruses, and chrysoviruses.
  • Magnaporthe oryzae chrysovirus 1 (MoCV1-A and MoCV1-B) were the first identified mycoviruses inducing hypovirulence in M. oryzae.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of mycovirus infections on the pathogenicity and physiological traits of Magnaporthe oryzae.
  • To explore the role of mycoviruses, particularly MoCV1-A, in driving fungal diversity and the development of pathogenic races.

Main Methods:

  • Identification and characterization of various mycoviruses within Magnaporthe oryzae.
  • Analysis of phenotypic changes in M. oryzae strains infected with MoCV1-A and MoCV1-B, including growth, morphology, and pigmentation.
  • Comparative analysis with related mycoviruses like Alternaria alternata chrysovirus 1 (AaCV1) to understand pathogenicity modulation.

Main Results:

  • MoCV1-A and MoCV1-B infections generally lead to hypovirulence in M. oryzae, manifesting as impaired growth, altered colony morphology, and reduced pigmentation.
  • MoCV1-A infection also promotes physiological diversity within the fungal population, contributing to the emergence of distinct pathogenic races.
  • Related mycoviruses, such as AaCV1, can have contrasting effects, causing host hypovirulence while increasing plant hypervirulence through enhanced toxin production.

Conclusions:

  • Mycoviruses, particularly chrysoviruses, can significantly influence the pathogenicity and physiological characteristics of phytopathogenic fungi like M. oryzae.
  • These mycoviruses may act as epigenetic factors, inducing substantial changes in fungal pathogenicity and host-plant interactions.
  • Understanding mycovirus-fungus interactions is crucial for developing novel strategies to manage rice blast disease.
Keywords:
Magnaporthe oryzae. chrysovirus 1Mycovirusdouble-stranded RNA virushypovirulencerice blast fungus

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