siRNAs Derived from Cymbidium Mosaic Virus and Odontoglossum Ringspot Virus Down-modulated the Expression Levels of Endogenous Genes in Phalaenopsis equestris

Lan, Han-hong; Wang, Cui-mei; Chen, Shuang-shuang; Zheng, Jian-ying

In this study, we analyzed the characterizations of the siRNAs in CymMV-and ORSV-coinfected P. equestris plants, and explored their potential roles in targeting a series of P. equestris genes which are related to host stress response, RNAi antiviral immunity defense, cytoskeleton, metabolic processes (chloroplast photosynthesis and mitochondria energy supply pathways, fatty acid biosynthetic process and protein phosphorylation), pathogenesis and symptomology. We also found that siRNAs derived from CymMV and ORSV could decrease the expression levels of all target genes in P. equestris. All results in this study provide an understanding of the RNAi mechanism and an insight into the function and implication of RNAi pathway in viruses-P. equestris interactions.