The Role of Plant Latex in Virus Biology
2023
Julia B. Merchán-Gaitán | João H. L. Mendes | Lucas E. C. Nunes | David S. Buss | Silas P. Rodrigues | Patricia M. B. Fernandes
At least 20,000 plant species produce latex, a capacity that appears to have evolved independently on numerous occasions. With a few exceptions, latex is stored under pressure in specialized cells known as laticifers and is exuded upon injury, leading to the assumption that it has a role in securing the plant after mechanical injury. In addition, a defensive effect against insect herbivores and fungal infections has been well established. Latex also appears to have effects on viruses, and laticifers are a hostile environment for virus colonization. Only one example of successful colonization has been reported: papaya meleira virus (PMeV) and papaya meleira virus <i>2</i> (PMeV2) in <i>Carica papaya</i>. In this review, a summary of studies that support both the pro- and anti-viral effects of plant latex compounds is provided. The latex components represent a promising natural source for the discovery of new pro- and anti-viral molecules in the fields of agriculture and medicine.
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