Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the most important food crops as
well as an experimental model plant for monocotyledonous plants (monocots).
However, rice production and consequently food sustainability are under the
constant threat of emerging and reemerging viral diseases. Rice viral pathogens
are genetically diverse and many highly pathogenic viruses such as Rice stripe
tenuivirus (RSV) and Rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) Rice dwarf
phytoreovirus (RDV) are transmitted persistently and solely by arthropod
vectors. RSV and RBSDV are transmitted by brown planthopper (Laodelphax
striatellus) and RDV is transmitted by leafhopper (Nephotettix cincticeps) in a
circulative manner, both RDV and RSV also can be transmitted through eggs of
the viruliferious female insects.Current projects focus on virus–host interactions and structural studies on host factors involved in virus-host interaction and plant defense against pathogens. These projects fall into several specific topics:
1. Interactions between host and viruses and disease induction;
2. Virus induced gene silencing and silencing suppression;
3. Interactions between virus and its insect vector;
Laboratory Members：Group leader: Yi Li, Ph. D., Professor
Group members: Chunhong Wei, Liying Wang, Zhenjia Zhang，Xiangyue Kong，Shengze Yao,Yu Huang, Keyan Xu, Ge Guo, Kun Zhao, Guangyao Li, Baoping Yang, Zhaoxiong Jiang, Jialin Yang, Jinrui Kang, Heran Wang
