Reprogrammed Plant Metabolism During Viral Infections: Mechanisms, Pathways and Implications

Plant viruses pose a significant threat to global agriculture, leading to substantial crop losses that jeopardise food security and disrupt ecosystem stability. These viral infections often reprogramme plant metabolism, compromising key pathways critical for growth and defence. For instance, infections by cucumber mosaic virus alter amino acid and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, including flavonoid and phenylpropanoid pathways, thereby weakening plant defences. Similarly, tomato bushy stunt virus disrupts lipid metabolism by altering the synthesis and accumulation of sterols and phospholipids, which are essential for viral replication and compromise membrane integrity. Recent advancements in gene-editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9, and metabolomics offer innovative strategies to mitigate these impacts. Precise genetic modifications can restore or optimise disrupted metabolic pathways, enhancing crop resilience to viral infections. Metabolomics further aids in identifying metabolic biomarkers linked to viral resistance, guiding breeding programmes aimed at developing virus-resistant plants. By reducing the susceptibility of crops to viral infections, these approaches hold significant potential to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides, increase crop yields and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Future research should focus on expanding our understanding of virus-host interactions at the molecular level while exploring the long-term ecological impacts of viral infections. Interdisciplinary approaches integrating multi-omics technologies and sustainable management strategies will be critical in addressing the challenges posed by plant viruses and ensuring global agricultural stability.