Chinese Bulletin of Botany ›› 2017, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (3): 375-387.DOI: 10.11983/CBB16103

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Molecular Study on Maize Rough Dwarf Disease: A Review

Ronggai Li1*, Yanmei Lu1, Yueying Wang2, Baoqiang Wang1, Wei Song1, Wenying Zhang1   

  1. 1Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Breeding of Hebei Province, Institute of Cereal and Oil Crops, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050035, China
    2College of Life Sciences, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, China
  • Received:2016-05-06 Accepted:2016-08-23 Online:2017-05-01 Published:2017-05-27
  • Contact: Li Ronggai
  • About author:

    # Co-first authors

Abstract: Maize rough dwarf disease (MRDD) is a worldwide viral disease that causes significant economic losses. Previous studies showed that 4 virus species within the genus Fijivirus, family Reoviruses cause maize rough dwarf disease: maize rough dwarf virus, Mal de Río Cuarto virus, rice black-streaked dwarf virus and southern rice black streaked dwarf virus. They are classified as Fijivirus group 2, sharing similar biological and genomic characteristics. And all of them contain 10 linear genomic segments of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that encode 13 proteins. The whole-genome sequences of the 4 viruses have been published and the functional genes were predicted. The functions of genes were preliminary studied. The completely immune germplasm has not been found; however, a small number of highly resistant germplasm have been identified in different environments. The resistance to MRDD is polygenically inherited and some major and minor quantitative trait loci (QTLs) have been identified. Each chromosome likely contains genes or QTLs for resistance to MRDD. The patterns of cellular defense system-related gene transcription, protein synthesis, hormone level and other biological pathways changed in response to virus infection. We summarize recent molecular studies on the maize rough dwarf disease pathogen, the genetic basis of resistance germplasm and the induced (anti-) mechanism of MRDD to provide theoretical guidance for anti-MRDD molecular breeding.