The diversity of viral communities and their infection dynamics in the rhizosphere of crops

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H02987
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 39040:Plant protection science-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Kondo Hideki 岡山大学, 資源植物科学研究所, 准教授 (40263628)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 久野 裕 岡山大学, 資源植物科学研究所, 准教授 (70415454) ; 鈴木 信弘 岡山大学, 資源植物科学研究所, 教授 (70206514) ; 兵頭 究 岡山大学, 資源植物科学研究所, 准教授 (80757881)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ウイルス / 作物 / 根圏 / リザーバー / オオムギ / アブラムシ / うどんこ病 / 水平伝搬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Crops are affected by various microorganisms and invertebrates that inhabit the phyllosphere and rhizosphere. It is assumed that these organisms carry a wide range of viruses, but their diversity and impact on crop production have not been well understood. In this project, our focus was on barley and wheat crops, and we conducted in-depth studies of viromes in the rhizosphere (and also the phyllosphere), which had not been extensively analyzed before. By using RNA-seq analysis on field samples of barley and wheat over a three-year period, we discovered multiple RNA viruses that infect plants, as well as insects, including previously unknown viruses. Furthermore, we identified a wide range of mycovirus candidates in the rhizosphere, although their actual hosts are yet to be determined. These findings are expected to provide valuable insights into the diversity of viral communities in barley and wheat agroecosystems, and they will contribute to future studies on infectious dynamics.

Free Research Field

植物病理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、これまでほとんど理解されていなかったムギ類（オオムギとコムギ）生存圏のウイルス叢の理解に向けてRNA-seqを行い、多くのウイルス学的な知見を蓄積することができた。特に、特定圃場におけるウイルスリファレンス配列の取得（新規植物・昆虫ウイルスや多くの菌類ウイルス候補を含む）は、圃場レベルでのウイルス叢の動態解析や生態学的な役割を紐解くために活用できると期待される。将来的には、ムギ類ウイルスのリスク再評価とウイルス抵抗性育種への応用、ムギ類作物のバイオコントロールへ向けたウイルス資材の開発、持続的作物生産における菌類および菌類ウイルスの利用へ向けた基礎知見の蓄積につながる。