Rice Stripe Mosaic Virus Encoded P6 Interacts with Heading Protein OsHAPL1 to Promote Viral Infection

Rice stripe mosaic virus (RSMV) is the sole cytoplasmic rhabdovirus documented in naturally infected rice plants. It encodes P6, which induces delayed heading and reduces yield in infected rice plants. P6 of RSMV interacts with OsHAPL1, facilitating the interaction between OsHAPL1 and DTH8, resulting in delayed rice heading under long day conditions. Additionally, OsHAPL1 plays a dual role in RSMV infection by positively influencing viral infection while negatively regulating the expression of defense signal genes. These findings elucidate a novel molecular mechanism through which a virus manipulates the host defense system to enhance viral infection and transmission, shedding new light on the crosstalk between rice heading and disease resistance pathways.