Exogenous salicylic acid treatment delays initial infection and counteracts alterations induced by Maize dwarf mosaic virus in the maize proteome

•We examine the interactions of Maize dwarf mosaic virus-SP1/maize/salicylic acid in time.•SA increases plant height, root volume, delayed symptom expression and reduces infection rate.•MDMV-SP1 alters photosynthesis and carbohydrate synthesis proteins.•SA stabilizes RuBisCo and chlorophyll a-b binding protein expression in infected plants.•We highlight biochemical pathways involved in the maize-MDMV pathosystem.

The phytohormone salicylic acid (SA) was applied to healthy and Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV)-infected maize plants, and differential proteomic analysis was simultaneously performed to evaluate the physiological effects and the SA-maize-virus interaction in the early pathogenesis cycle. MDMV infection reduced photosynthetic rates, while SA increased them, together with plant height and roots in healthy plants. In infected plants, SA increased RuBisCo and stabilized chlorophyll a-b binding protein expression, increased plant height and root volume, delayed symptom expression, and reduced infection rate. Results highlight biochemical pathways involved in the maize-MDMV pathosystem and signal SA as key to maize disease management programs.