Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenase Plant Defense Mechanisms against Viruses

Plants are constantly challenged by several viruses as one of the major yield-limiting pathogens. As opposed to animals, plants lack specialized defense cells and therefore rely on the ability of each cell to recognize and defend against every invading viral pathogen. In the evolutionary arms race that plays out between plants and viruses, we see that plants have put in place many defense strategies against viral infection. In that regard to very important mechanisms, the cytochrome P450 (CYP) monooxygenase system stands out for its key role in plant defense against viruses. The crucial functions that cytochrome P450 enzymes play in plants’ defense mechanisms against disease-causing microbes have been well established. This chapter provides an insight into the importance of host plant defense mechanisms against viruses and the beneficial roles of CYP in the regulation of major defense mechanisms (innate immunity defense mechanism, RNA silencing defense mechanism, translational repression defense mechanism, and degradation of protein mediated by ubiquitination and autophagy defense mechanisms) against viruses in plants. By showcasing the importance of CYP monooxygenase in plant defense, this chapter provides valuable insights into the development of novel strategies for virus management and resistance breeding in crops.