Endogenous pararetroviruses: two-faced travelers in the plant genome

Endogenous plant pararetroviruses (EPRVs) were identified as integrated counterparts of most members of the plant virus family Caulimoviridae and represent repetitive elements that are ubiquitous in the plant kingdom. They are often located in pericentromeric regions of plant chromosomes in the vicinity of retrotransposon sequences. Depending on their structure and sequence integrity, some EPRVs are able to replicate and to initiate viral infection. However, conservation of integrated sequences in plant genomes might indicate benefits for the host during evolution. Understanding EPRV activation and control by the host could have important implications for plant breeding strategies to prevent viral disease caused by EPRVs in newly generated cultivars.