Role of RNA silencing in plant-viroid interactions and in viroid pathogenesis

Viroids are small, single-stranded, non-protein coding and circular RNAs able to infect host plants in the absence of any helper virus. They may elicit symptoms in their hosts, but the underlying molecular pathways are only partially known. Here we address the role of post-transcriptional RNA silencing in plant-viroid-interplay, with major emphasis on the involvement of this sequence-specific RNA degradation mechanism in both plant antiviroid defence and viroid pathogenesis. This review is a tribute to the memory of Dr. Ricardo Flores, who largely contributed to elucidate this and other molecular mechanisms involved in plant-viroid interactions.

Automated summary

Viroids, small non-protein coding circular RNAs, can infect host plants independently of helper viruses. This review focuses on the role of post-transcriptional RNA silencing in the interaction between viroids and plants, specifically in plant antiviroid defense and viroid pathogenesis. The review also pays tribute to Dr. Ricardo Flores, who made significant contributions to elucidate molecular mechanisms involved in plant-viroid interactions.