Open AccessViral Satellite RNA Expression in Transgenic Tomato Confers Field Tolerance to Cucumber Mosaic Virus
Author(s) -
John R. Stommel,
M. E. Tousignant,
T. Wai,
Rita Pasini,
J.M. Kaper
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
plant disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.663
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1943-7692
pISSN - 0191-2917
DOI - 10.1094/pdis.1998.82.4.391
Subject(s) - biology , cucumber mosaic virus , cucumovirus , transgene , satellite , virology , titer , genetically modified crops , virus , rna , plant virus , gene , genetics , engineering , aerospace engineering
Field trials of transgenic tomato plants expressing an ameliorative satellite RNA of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) were conducted to test the efficacy of satellite-transgenic technology to protect against CMV infection. Three transgenic tomato lines derived from two susceptible genotypes were evaluated over two growing seasons for viral symptoms and titers, satellite RNA expression, and fruit yield. Satellite-transgenic lines exhibited mild or no CMV symptoms and low viral titers relative to nontransformed plants. A significant negative correlation between satellite RNA levels and disease severity was evident in transgenic lines. Total marketable yield of CMV-infected satellite-transgenic lines was 40 to 84% greater than that of CMV-infected parent lines. Importantly, yield of CMV-infected satellite-transgenic lines did not differ significantly from mock-inoculated parent lines. Risk assessment results demonstrated low levels of satellite RNA transmission within the test site and no evidence of satellite RNA-induced damage on surrounding plants.