Louis Bengyella
The University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana
Title: Artificial microRNA–VIGS silencing of a unique C3H2C3-type RING finger protein MeZRP on the CMD2 scaffold05124 of cassava genome reveals severe decreased growth and increase disease development following geminivirus infection
Biography
Biography: Louis Bengyella
Abstract
The cassava mosaic disease (CMD) caused by cassava mosaic geminiviruses (CMG) is one of the most important ravaging factor in root production. The SSRY28 dominant resistant marker designated CMD2 gene of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is located on scaffold05214. Nonetheless, the identity of the dominant gene according to phytozome genome annotations and the phenotypic effect of silencing CMG–responsive genes on scaffold05214 are unknown. In an effort to characterize resistance on scaffold05214, gene accession cassava4.1_029590m encoding for a 17.85 kDa ZF-RING/U–box motif protein, C3H2C3-type (inferred herein as MeZRF) was identified following the interaction of South African cassava mosaic virus (SACMV) with tolerant cassava landrace TME3. By using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) coupled with artificial microRNA (miRNA) for silencing MeZRF followed by SACMV infection, severe CMD developed in TME3 and N. benthamiana hallmarked with decreased growth. This study shows that silencing MeZRF located on scaffold05214 of the dominant resistant marker, compromises the tolerance ability of TME3 to SACMV and also alters the expression of interacting partners–RGL2, TLP9 and UBC8 that are involved in plant growth and development. This is the first study defining the function of a C3H2C3-type RING finger protein in cassava located in CMD2 scaffold05214.