Transcriptome analysis reveals differentially expressed small RNAs and genes associated with grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 infections

The molecular interactions between grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) and three grapevine cultivars were characterised by identifying small RNAs and genes with differential expression between healthy and infected grapevine using next-generation sequencing and RT-qPCR assays. Cultivar specificity was identified in the sRNA and gene expression analyses, and both approaches identified Chenin blanc-specific responses providing the first insight into the differential symptom expression observed between cultivars. Differentially expressed genes identified in all three cultivars, provide a potential pool of genes displaying a molecular response to GLRaV-3 infection, contributing to the characterisation of this virus-plant interaction.