Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) causes severe losses of tomato crops worldwide. To cope dynamically with such a threat, plants deploy strategies acting at the molecular and the epigenetic levels. We found that tomato symptoms progress in a specific-genotype-manner upon TSWV infection. Susceptible genotypes showed within the Auxin Response Factor (ARF8) promoter coupled to enhanced expression of miRNA167a, reduced ARF8 gene and decreased levels of the hormone auxin. This constitutes a deliberate attempt of TSWV to disrupt plant growth to promote spread in sensitive cultivars. Epigenetic regulation through the level of cytosine methylation and the miR167a-ARF8 module are part of a complex network modulating auxin-triggered synthesis and shaping tomato responses to TSWV. Furthermore, modulation of miR167a-ARF8 regulatory module could be applied in tomato-resistance breeding programs.

番茄斑萎病毒 (TSWV) 导致全世界番茄作物的严重损失。为了动态应对这种威胁，植物部署了在分子和表观遗传水平上起作用的策略。我们发现番茄症状在 TSWV 感染后以特定的基因型方式进展。易感基因型显示在生长素反应因子 ( ARF8 ) 启动子内，与miRNA167a 的表达增强、ARF8基因减少和生长素激素水平降低相结合。这构成了 TSWV 故意破坏植物生长以促进敏感品种传播的企图。通过胞嘧啶甲基化水平和miR167a-ARF8 进行表观遗传调控模块是调节生长素触发的合成和塑造番茄对 TSWV 的反应的复杂网络的一部分。此外，miR167a-ARF8调节模块的调节可应用于番茄抗性育种计划。