Passage of rice necrosis mosaic virus property induced growth promotion in some plants of commercial importance and its molecular evidence

Rice necrosis mosaic virus (RNMV), upon inoculation, induced higher growth and yield in Ludwigia perennis and Corchorus olitorius. Crops of commercial importance, including arhar, rice bean, cotton and tomato, were tested for growth promotion and higher productivity upon RNMV inoculation. Plant growth characteristics and biochemical components were measured from control, inoculated and energised plants. To understand the molecular basis behind such phenomenon, tomato plants were selected for subtractive hybridisation and reverse northern analysis due to its known gene sequences. Significant changes in biological properties and biochemical components in all the inoculated test plants over control were observed along with better seed quality. Over-expression of genes falling in different functional categories like photosynthesis, plant growth and development, and membrane transport explained the virus-induced growth promotion phenomenon as well as the temporary passage of this property through seeds of inoculated plants.