As an organelle only found in plant cells and some protists, the chloroplast is not only the main metabolic energy originator, but also the abiotic/biotic stress sensor and defense signal generator. For a long time, chloroplasts have been recognized as a common target by many plant viruses. Viruses may directly modify chloroplast membranes to assemble their replication complex for viral genome replication. Viruses may downregulate chloroplast-related and photosynthesis-related genes via an as yet unknown mechanism to support their infection. Viruses may also interrupt functionality of the photosynthetic machinery through protein-protein interactions. This review briefly summarizes current knowledge about modifications of the photosynthetic machinery by plant viruses, highlights the important role of chloroplasts in the infection process and discusses chloroplast-associated pathogenesis.
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