Plant Virus Biotechnology

Plants host a large variety of viruses and other subviral infectious agents that frequently induce important diseases and challenge crop production worldwide. However, current knowledge about the biology of these infectious agents has allowed us to convert the former enemies into new allies. Elements isolated from viral genomes, such as promoters, terminators, ribozymes, RNA silencing suppressors or sequence-specific proteases, as well as conveniently-manipulated defective or fully infectious viral clones can be used as molecular tools in plant biotechnology. The aim of this special issue is to address the use of parts and systems derived from viruses and subviral agents as biotechnological tools for plant research and crop improvement. Researchers can contribute with original research findings or with review and comments to this issue. 

Guest Editor Professor José-Antonio Daròs Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universitat Politècnica de València), Avenida de los Naranjos s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain