biostudies-literatureTan XNatural Science Foundation of Zhejiang ProvinceNatural Science Foundation of ChinaNingbo UniversityNational Key Research and Development Plan of Chinae1010548https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9132283biostudies-literatureUnknown18(5)NF-Y transcription factors are known to play many diverse roles in the development and physiological responses of plants but little is known about their role in plant defense. Here, we demonstrate the negative roles of rice NF-YA family genes in antiviral defense against two different plant viruses, Rice stripe virus (RSV, Tenuivirus) and Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV, Fijivirus). RSV and SRBSDV both induced the expression of OsNF-YA family genes. Overexpression of OsNF-YAs enhanced rice susceptibility to virus infection, while OsNF-YAs RNAi mutants were more resistant. Transcriptome sequencing showed that the expression of jasmonic acid (JA)-related genes was significantly decreased in plants overexpressing OsNF-YA when they were infected by viruses. qRT-PCR and JA sensPLoS pathogensNF-YA transcription factors suppress jasmonic acid-mediated antiviral defense and facilitate viral infection in rice.PMC913228332172416LZ22C140001K. C. Wong Magna Fund321001032021YFD140050032022072Yang ZLi YTan XChen JZhang HWei ZSun ZfalseNF-YA transcription factors suppress jasmonic acid-mediated antiviral defense and facilitate viral infection in rice.NF-Y transcription factors are known to play many diverse roles in the development and physiological responses of plants but little is known about their role in plant defense. Here, we demonstrate the negative roles of rice NF-YA family genes in antiviral defense against two different plant viruses, Rice stripe virus (RSV, Tenuivirus) and Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV, Fijivirus). RSV and SRBSDV both induced the expression of OsNF-YA family genes. Overexpression of OsNF-YAs enhanced rice susceptibility to virus infection, while OsNF-YAs RNAi mutants were more resistant. Transcriptome sequencing showed that the expression of jasmonic acid (JA)-related genes was significantly decreased in plants overexpressing OsNF-YA when they were infected by viruses. qRT-PCR and JA sens2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 May2026-03-31T11:40:52.681Z2025-04-04T22:15:20.385ZS-EPMC91322833556015110.1371/journal.ppat.1010548