AGO2, RDR2, and HEN1 comprise a non-canonical DCL4-mediated antiviral pathway independent of DRB4

Plants employ multiple, redundantly acting Dicer enzymes in a layered antiviral defense system. While Dicer-like 4 (DCL4), aided by its cofactor dsRNA-binding protein 4 (DRB4), serves as the primary antiviral Dicer, the genetic architecture and effector components of its DRB4-independent activity have remained enigmatic. Here, through systematic genetic analysis in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), we delineate a complete non-canonical antiviral pathway that is mediated by DCL4 in the absence of DRB4 and the backup Dicer DCL2. We demonstrate that ARGONAUTE2 (AGO2) functions as the dominant, non-redundant effector of this pathway, with its loss leading to extreme viral susceptibility and plant mortality, a phenotype far exceeding that caused by the deficiency of AGO1 or AGO7. Furthermore, we uncover a striking inversion of the canonical RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) hierarchy, with RDR2, rather than RDR1 or RDR6, serving as the principal amplifier of the antiviral signal. The methyltransferase HEN1 is also indispensable for stabilizing the viral small interfering RNAs in this pathway. Crucially, the integrity of the core silencing machinery is preserved in these mutants, pinpointing the defects specifically to antiviral effector and amplifier functions. Our work defines a robust backup antiviral module composed of DCL4-AGO2-RDR2-HEN1, revealing a sophisticated configuration of the plant immune system.