Modulation of carbohydrate metabolism and chloroplast structure in sugarcane leaves which were infected by Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus (SCYLV)

Non-symptomatic sugarcane plants infected with Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus showed starch in mesophyll and bundle sheath cells. In situ-hybridization of mRNAs of sucrose-phosphate phosphatase and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase revealed that infected leaves contained SPPase and AGPase in mesophyll cells, Kranz cells and bundle sheath cells. In contrast virus-free leaves contained SPPase only in Kranz cells and AGPase only in bundle sheath cells. Infected leaves exhibited ultrastructural changes in Kranz cell chloroplasts and a shift of the chlorophyll a/b ratio. No obstruction of plasmodesmata was observed. The results indicate that SCYLV-infected plants, even when visually non-symptomatic, underwent strong metabolic and ultrastructural changes.