Molecular Pathogens, 2025, Vol.16, No.6, 257-265 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mp 257 Research Insight Open Access The Role of Resistance Genes in Potato Virus Defense Hangming Lin, Dandan Huang 1 Tropical Legume Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China 2 Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China Corresponding author: dandan.huang@hitar.org Molecular Pathogens, 2025, Vol.16, No.6 doi: 10.5376/mp.2025.16.0026 Received: 20 Sep., 2025 Accepted: 30 Oct., 2025 Published: 12 Nov., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Lin and Huang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Lin H.M., and Huang D.D., 2025, The role of resistance genes in potato virus defense, Molecular Pathogens, 16(6): 257-265 (doi: 10.5376/mp.2025.16.0026) Abstract Potato virus infections, especially those caused by potato Y virus (PVY), X virus (PVX), and leaf curl virus (PLRV), pose a serious threat to the global yield and quality of potatoes. In recent years, disease resistance strategies centered on resistance genes have become a sustainable and efficient approach to dealing with viral diseases. This study systematically reviewed the types of major potato viruses, their infection mechanisms, and the physiological response processes of host plants. It also classified and functioned the identified resistance genes, especially NB-LRR genes, revealing their key roles in virus recognition, signal transduction, and immune activation. Furthermore, it explored the molecular mechanisms by which resistance genes mediate virus defense. The application effectiveness of resistance genes in virus prevention and control was demonstrated through typical cases, such as the successful application of Ry genes in PV-resistant breeding, the promotion of Rx genes in commercial PVX-resistant varieties, and the comparison of the application of PLRV resistance genes in breeding projects in Europe and China. This study aims to provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for building a sustainable potato virus defense system. Keywords Resistance gene; Potato virus; Effector triggers immunity; RNA silencing; Molecular breeding 1 Introduction The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) can be regarded as one of the basic foods worldwide, especially being of great significance to the dining tables in developing countries. It is not only a matter of filling the stomach, but also a guarantee of nutrient intake. But this seemingly "plain and unadorned" crop has actually been plagued by viruses all along. Familiar faces like the potato Y virus (PVY), X virus (PVX), and leaf curl virus (PLRV) have long been common sources of trouble in many regions. It is not uncommon for the output to drop by 20% to 30% all at once. In severe years, the loss may even exceed 80% (Kolychikhina et al., 2021). And the impact brought by these viruses is not merely a headache for the fields. In Europe, the annual economic loss caused by PVY alone approaches 187 million euros (Dupuis et al., 2023), and this amount is sufficient to illustrate the severity of the problem. What's more troublesome is that the virus issue has not come to a standstill. Climate change has made things even more complicated. The warming trend not only makes vector insects more active but also contributes to the emergence of new strains. The situation that could have been stabilized through vector control is now becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Pesticides, although useful, have limited effects and also face resistance issues and environmental pressure. Against this backdrop, it seems quite natural to turn one's attention to resistant breeding. After all, allowing potatoes to withstand the virus on their own is the fundamental solution to the problem (Liu et al., 2023). When it comes to resistance, the R gene has always been a key focus of research, especially those genes encoding the NLR protein, which have demonstrated decent antiviral capabilities. Star members like the Ny and Ry genes can not only "precisely strike" specific strains, but some can also provide broad-spectrum protection. They have been successfully applied in some commercial varieties (Lucioli et al., 2022). In terms of breeding methods, from molecular markers to gene editing techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9, many breakthroughs have indeed been brought in recent years, accelerating the discovery and functional verification of resistance genes significantly.
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