• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.329-336
• /
• 2009

To evaluate the involvement of translation initiation factors eIF4E and eIFiso4E in Chilli veinal mottle virus (ChiVMV) infection in pepper, we conducted a genetic analysis using a segregating population derived from a cross between Capsicum annuum 'Dempsey' containing an elF4E mutation ($pvr1^2$) and C. annuum 'Perennial' containing an elFiso4E mutation (pvr6). C. annuum 'Dempsey' was susceptible and C. annuum 'Perennial' was resistant to ChiVMV. All $F_1$ plants showed resistance, and $F_2$ individuals segregated in a resistant-susceptible ratio of 166:21, indicating that many resistance loci were involved. Seventy-five $F_2$ and 329 $F_3$ plants of 17 families were genotyped with $pvr1^2$ and pvr6 allele-specific markers, and the genotype data were compared with observed resistance to viral infection. All plants containing homozygous genotypes of both $pvr1^2$ and pvr6 were resistant to ChiVMV, demonstrating that simultaneous mutations in elF4E and eIFiso4E confer resistance to ChiVMV in pepper. Genotype analysis of $F_2$ plants revealed that all plants containing homozygous genotypes of both $pvr1^2$ and pvr6 showed resistance to ChiVMV. In protein-protein interaction experiments, ChiVMV viral genome-linked protein (VPg) interacted with both eIF4E and eIFiso4E. Silencing of elF4E and eIFiso4E in the VIGS experiment showed reduction in ChiVMV accumulation. These results demonstrated that ChiVMV can use both eIF4E and eIFiso4E for replication, making simultaneous mutations in eIF4E and eIFiso4E necessary to prevent ChiVMV infection in pepper.