Interaction of RNA silencing with plant viruses in plants

RNA silencing is regarded as a strong defensive mechanism against plant viruses. RNA silencing acts against plant viruses and reduces virus concentration and leaf symptoms. Since RNA silencing is a key route of defense against plant viruses, many plant viruses evolve to resist and survive this system. Some viruses encode proteins that suppress RNA silencing created by siRNA and miRNA and increase virus concentration. Most plant viruses encode suppressors of RNA silencing which include some viral proteins that interact with various parts of RNA silencing at different stages. Coevolution of plant viruses and plants in the long time results in suppression of RNA silencing by viral suppressors. However, more knowledge regarding these routes and the role of viral suppression proteins facilitate our understanding of plant resistance against viruses and production of transgenic plants which are resistant to viruses.