Antagonism between salicylic acid and auxin responses directs root development during Tobamovirus infection
- 1Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Organization - Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel.
Abstract
Viral symptoms in plants are structural and physiological changes resulting from virus-induced manipulation of host pathways. While the effects of viruses on above-ground organs have been well-documented, their impact on the root system remains largely understudied. In tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), the emerging tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV; Genus: Tobamovirus) causes significant reductions in root branching. However, the mechanisms underlying this symptom remained unexplored. Here, we provide evidence that tobamovirus-mediated suppression of root branching is conserved between ToBRFV and tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), with ToMV exhibiting a more severe effect over root development. Transcriptome analysis of tobamovirus-infected roots revealed a major shift from growth to defense, marked by the early activation of salicylic acid (SA) signaling. Conversely, auxin signaling was extensively reprogrammed; For example, auxin signaling suppressors such as Aux/IAAs were activated while expression of auxin response factors (ARFs), was downregulated. Importantly, SlARF19a showed reduced expression during infection. Functional analysis of Slarf19a mutants confirmed its critical role in root branching and the root's developmental response to ToMV. We conclude that tobamovirus-mediated root suppression involves an inverse relationship between SA-mediated defense and auxin-mediated growth and identify SlARF19a as a key regulator in this developmental trade-off.
Related
- Convergent recognition of tobamovirus movement proteins by phylogenetically distinct NLR immune receptors
- Hyperinflammation and immunomodulation in influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and syncytial respiratory virus infection in adults: from innate immune responses and biomarkers to clinical and therapeutic implications
- Enhanced Neutralizing Antibody Responses to Rhinovirus C and Age-Dependent Patterns of Infection
- Data mining of global sequence datasets markedly expands known diversity within the Tobamovirus genus
- The infant nasopharyngeal microbiome impacts severity of lower respiratory infection and risk of asthma development
BibTeX
@misc{weiss2026antagonism,
title = {{Antagonism between salicylic acid and auxin responses directs root development during Tobamovirus infection}},
author = {D. Weiss and F. Shaya and M. Carmeli-Weissberg and B. N. Mansfeld and Z. Spiegelman},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.17.752527},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.17.752527v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Antagonism between salicylic acid and auxin responses directs root development during Tobamovirus infection
AU - D. Weiss
AU - F. Shaya
AU - M. Carmeli-Weissberg
AU - B. N. Mansfeld
AU - Z. Spiegelman
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/17
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.17.752527
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.17.752527v1
AB - Viral symptoms in plants are structural and physiological changes resulting from virus-induced manipulation of host pathways. While the effects of viruses on above-ground organs have been well-documented, their impact on the root system remains largely understudied. In tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), the emerging tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV; Genus: Tobamovirus) causes significant reductions in root branching. However, the mechanisms underlying this symptom remained unexplored. Here, we provide evidence that tobamovirus-mediated suppression of root branching is conserved between ToBRFV and tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), with ToMV exhibiting a more severe effect over root development. Transcriptome analysis of tobamovirus-infected roots revealed a major shift from growth to defense, marked by the early activation of salicylic acid (SA) signaling. Conversely, auxin signaling was extensively reprogrammed; For example, auxin signaling suppressors such as Aux/IAAs were activated while expression of auxin response factors (ARFs), was downregulated. Importantly, SlARF19a showed reduced expression during infection. Functional analysis of Slarf19a mutants confirmed its critical role in root branching and the root's developmental response to ToMV. We conclude that tobamovirus-mediated root suppression involves an inverse relationship between SA-mediated defense and auxin-mediated growth and identify SlARF19a as a key regulator in this developmental trade-off.
ER -