Molecular interplay between phytohormones and geminiviruses: a saga of a never-ending arms race

Abstract Geminiviruses can infect a wide range of plant hosts worldwide and have hence become an emerging global agroeconomic threat. The association these viruses with satellite molecules highly efficient insect vectors such as whiteflies further prime their devastating impacts. Plants elicit strong antiviral immune response to restrict the invasion destructive pathogens. Phytohormones help plants mount this occupy key position in combating biotrophs. These defense hormones not only inhibit geminiviral propagation but also hamper viral transmission by compromising performance vectors. Nonetheless, geminiviruses co-evolved few multitasking virulence factors that readily remodel host cellular machineries circumvent phytohormone-mediated manifestation response. Furthermore, obligate parasites exploit growth produce environment permissive for virus replication. In review, we outline current understanding roles regulation phytohormones pathogenesis.