Co-infection of two reoviruses increases both viruses accumulation in rice by up-regulating of viroplasm components and movement proteins bilaterally and RNA silencing suppressor unilaterally

BACKGROUND: Synergism between southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) and rice ragged stunt virus (RRSV) not only aggravates disease symptoms but also enhances their vector acquisition efficiencies by increasing both viruses’ titers in co-infected rice plants, which may exacerbate the epidemic of both viruses and cause significant damage to rice production. The molecular mechanism of viral synergism of these two viruses remains unexplored. METHODS: Single and double infection of SRBSDV and RRSV were obtained with the viruliferous white-backed planthopper and brown planthopper inoculation on four-leaf stage rice seedlings, respectively, under experimental condition. The second upper leaf from each inoculated rice plants were collected at 9, 15, and 20 days post inoculation (dpi) and used for relative quantification of 13 SRBSDV genes and 11 RRSV genes by the reverse-transcription quantitative PCR. Viral gene expression levels were compared between singly and doubly infected samples at the same stage. RESULTS: The movement protein and viroplasm matrix-related genes as well as the structural (capsid) protein genes of both viruses were remarkably up-regulated at different time points in the co-infected rice plants compared with the samples singly infected with SRBSDV or RRSV, however, the RNA silencing suppressor (P6) of only RRSV, but not of both the viruses, was up-regulated. CONCLUSIONS: The SRBSDV-RRSV synergism promoted replication and movement of both viruses and inhibited the host immunity by enhancing the gene suppressing effect exerted by one of them (RRSV). ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12985-017-0819-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.