Tomato DCL2b is required for the biosynthesis of 22-nt small RNAs, the resulting secondary siRNAs, and the host defense against ToMV.

ABSTRACT: The tomato encode four functional DCL families, of which DCL2 is poorly studied. Here, we generated loss-of-function mutants for a tomato DCL2 gene, dcl2b, and we identified its major role in defending against tomato mosaic virus in relation to both natural and manual infections. Genome-wide small RNA expression profiling revealed that DCL2b was required for the processing 22-nt small RNAs, including a few species of miRNAs. Interestingly, these DCL2b-dependent 22-nt miRNAs functioned similarly to the DCL1-produced 22-nt miRNAs in Arabidopsis and could serve as triggers to generate a class of secondary siRNAs. In particular, the majority of secondary siRNAs were derived from plant defense genes when the plants were challenged with vir

SUBMITTER: Wang T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6119189 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature