Antiviral Roles of Abscisic Acid in Plants

• Published in: Frontiers in plant science Vol. 8; p. 1760
• Main Authors: Alazem, Mazen, Lin, Na-Sheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 11.10.2017
• Subjects: abscisic acid; BaMV; defense responses; Plant Science; plant-virus interactions; defense responses; abscisic acid; plant-virus interactions; BaMV
• ISSN: 1664-462X; 1664-462X
• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01760

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a key hormone involved in tuning responses to several abiotic stresses and also has remarkable impacts on plant defense against various pathogens. The roles of ABA in plant defense against bacteria and fungi are multifaceted, inducing or reducing defense responses depending on its time of action. However, ABA induces different resistance mechanisms to viruses regardless of the induction time. Recent studies have linked ABA to the antiviral silencing pathway, which interferes with virus accumulation, and the micro RNA (miRNA) pathway through which ABA affects the maturation and stability of miRNAs. ABA also induces callose deposition at plasmodesmata, a mechanism that limits viral cell-to-cell movement. Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) is a member of the potexvirus group and is one of the most studied viruses in terms of the effects of ABA on its accumulation and resistance. In this review, we summarize how ABA interferes with the accumulation and movement of BaMV and other viruses. We also highlight aspects of ABA that may have an effect on other types of resistance and that require further investigation.