Mutations in Pea seedborne mosaic virus genome-linked protein VPg alter pathotype-specific virulence in Pisum sativum

Pisum sativum plant introduction (PI) line 269818 is resistant to potyvirus pea seedborne mosaic virus (PSbMV) isolates, categorized as pathotype P1, and is susceptible to pathotype P4 isolates. This difference In infectivity is determined by the viral genome-linked protein (VPg) cistron. Mutational analysis of VPg of PSbMV isolates DPD1 and NY representing pathotypes P1 a nd P4 revealed that codon changes affecting amino acids 105 to 117 in the c entral region of VPg influenced virulence on PI 269818. In contrast, Infect ivity on pea cultivar Dark Skinned Perfection, which is susceptible to both pathotypes, was not affected by the mutations. Mutants overcoming resistan ce in PI 269818 were analyzed for changes in the VPg coding region upon pas sage through PI 269818 and Dark Skinned Perfection. Adaptive changes were o bserved only upon passage through PI 269818 and only at codons from amino a cid 105 to 117, Expression of DPD1 VPg in PI 269818 did not affect infectio n by NY, which suggests that VPg from DPD1 is not an elicitor of a general resistance response. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that vi ral amplification depends upon the interaction between VPg and a host facto r.