Exogenous dsRNA-mediated field protection against Pigeonpea sterility mosaic emaravirus

Abstract

Pigeonpea sterility mosaic emaraviruses (PPSMVs) cause sterility mosaic disease in pigeonpea which significantly reduce the crop yield. Currently there are no effective management strategies available for the control of these emaraviruses or their vector eriophyid mites. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate double stranded RNA based control of PPSMV in an open field experiment. Three genes of PPSMV, namely, the RNA dependent RNA polymerase, nucleo-capsid protein and movement protein were targeted by dsRNA-based strategy. DsRNAs for these genes were successfully produced in vitro and exogenously applied on pigeonpea plants in the field providing protection against PPSMV. Of these, the dsRNAs targeting RNA dependent RNA polymerase and movement protein gave relatively better protection when compared to the dsRNAs targeting nucleo-capsid protein. This is the first demonstration of dsRNA-mediated protection against a negative sense plant RNA virus.