Viroids are very small plant pathogens, consisting of short non-coding RNA sequences.
There are many different species that infect a wide range of plant species and cause
significant economic damage. Preventing the introduction and spread of viroids is a
fundamental measure for controlling viroid diseases. However, since this is practically
impossible under field conditions, it is important to develop methods for obtaining
viroid-free plant material and treating the infected plants. Scientists have been
developing and optimizing various classical methods for years, the most common of
which are meristem culture, thermotherapy, chemotherapy, cryotherapy and
micrografting. At the same time they are also looking for new biotechnological
approaches to combat viroids, which are mainly based on the RNA silencing
mechanism. The success of removing viroids depends on the type of viroid, the host
plant, the ability of tissue regeneration and the used protocol, which is why there is no
universal method for their removal. The best results are achieved by combining different
methods, various modern processes are also very promising, which are CRISPR-Cas13,
SIGS and different transgenic RNAi approaches. These may in the future offer a
sustainable solution and the development of more resistant varieties.
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