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Updated: Dec 25, 2025

VIGS-Mediated Forward Genetics Screening for Identification of Genes Involved in Nonhost Resistance
Published on: August 23, 2013
Trade-offs between host tolerances to different pathogens in plant-virus interactions
Nuria Montes1,2, Viji Vijayan1,2, Israel Pagán1
1Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas UPM-INIA and E.T.S. Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Autopista M40, km.38, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid 28223, Spain.
Plants can evolve tolerance to pathogens, but this defense strategy is not fully understood. This study found that tolerance to one virus can be traded-off against tolerance to another, revealing new defense mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Plant pathology
- Evolutionary biology
- Plant-pathogen interactions
Background:
- Plant defense strategies include resistance and tolerance.
- Evolutionary theory predicts a trade-off between resistance and tolerance.
- Experimental evidence for this trade-off is often lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if plant tolerance to one virus is traded-off against tolerance to another virus.
- To identify the mechanisms underlying plant tolerance evolution.
- To investigate tolerance-tolerance trade-offs rather than resistance-tolerance trade-offs.
Main Methods:
- Challenged 18 Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes with Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV).
- Characterized fecundity tolerance and mortality tolerance as a norm of reaction across viral loads.
- Analyzed resistance-tolerance and tolerance-tolerance trade-offs.
Main Results:
- Tolerance to TuMV was linked to changes in plant reproductive periods.
- Tolerance to CMV involved resource reallocation from growth to reproduction.
- Tolerance to TuMV was traded-off against tolerance to CMV in a virulence-dependent manner.
Conclusions:
- Plant tolerance evolution involves trade-offs between tolerance to different pathogens.
- Mechanisms include adjustments in life-history traits and resource allocation.
- Understanding combined pathogen effects is crucial for plant defense evolution.
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