VIRUS

How Viruses Attack Plant

Only relatively few viruses, such as TMV, rely on long-term (up to decades) survival in
the environment and on passive mechanical transmission from plant to plant. Most plant
viruses are actively transmitted from infected to healthy plants by a living organism called a
vector. Plant-feeding arthropods, nematodes and plant-parasitic fungi are the major types of
vector organisms for plant viruses. Among these, aphids and whiteflies are capable of
transmitting the largest number of virus species. Most viruses are actively transmitted to
healthy plants in a matter of seconds, hours, or days by vectors.
When a virus infects a plant, it moves from one cell to another and multiplies in most
cells. Viruses move from cell to cell through the plasmodesmata connecting adjacent cells.
Viruses multiply in each parenchyma cell they infect. In leaf parenchyma cells the virus
moves approximately 1 millimeter, or 8 to 10 cells, per day. In all economically important
viral infections, viruses reach the phloem and through it are transported rapidly over long
distances within the plant. Most viruses, however, require 2 to 5 days or more to move out of
an inoculated leaf. Once the virus has entered the phloem, it moves rapidly in it toward
growing regions (apical meristems) or other foodutilizing parts of the plant, such as tubers
and rhizomes. In the phloem, the virus spreads systemically throughout the plant and re-
enters the parenchyma cells adjacent to the phloem through plasmodesmata.

NEMATODE
How Nematodes Attack Plant
Plant parasitic nematodes depend solely on plants for growth and reproduction (obligate
parasite). They obtain nutrients from the cytoplasm of living root, stem and leaf cells for
development, growth and survival. Nematodes possess a hollow and a protrusible feeding
structure called the stylet. The nematodes use this structure to pierce and penetrate the cell
wall of a plant cell, inject saliva secretions and withdraw and ingest nutrients from the
cytoplasm. Nematodes that enter root tissue also use their stylet to cut openings and/or inject
secretions to dissolve or weaken the cell wall or middle lamella. In general, all plant parasitic
nematodes damage plants by direct mechanical injury using the stylet during penetration
and/or by secretion of enzymes into the plant cells while the nematode is feeding.

Sumber : Agrios, George N. 2005. Plant Pathology, 5th Edition. USA : Elsevier Academic
Press