Complementary functions of two recessive R-genes determine resistance durability of tobacco ‘Virgin A Mutant’ (VAM) to Potato virus Y

Tobaccos VAM and NC745 carry the recessive va gene that confers resistance to PVYNN. However, they exhibit different levels of resistance durability. Upon virus inoculation, only NC745 developed sporadic systemic symptoms caused by emerging resistance-breaking variants that easily infected both NC745 and VAM genotypes. To identify the differential host conditions associated with this phenomenon, cellular accumulation, cell-to-cell movement, vascular translocation, and foliar content of PVYNN were comparatively evaluated. Virus cell-to-cell movement was restricted and its transit through the vasculature boundaries was completely blocked in both tobacco varieties. However, an additional defense mechanism operating only in tobacco VAM drastically reduced the in situ cellular virus accumulation. Genetic analyses of hybrid plant progenies indicate that VAM-type resistance was conditioned by at least two recessive genes: va and a newly reported va2 locus. Moreover, segregant plant progenies that restricted virus movement but permitted normal virus accumulation were prone to develop resistance-breaking infections.