Autori: Zagrai, I.; Capote, N.; Ravelonandro, M.; Cambra, M.; Zagrai, L.; Scorza, R.,

Editorial: JOURNAL OF PLANT PATHOLOGY, 90(1), p.63-71, 2008.

Rezumat:

Transgenic C5 cv. Honey Sweet is a clone of Prunus
domestica L. transformed with the Plum pox virus coat
protein gene (PPV-CP). This transgenic plum displays
post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) which
makes it highly resistant to PPV infection. To test the effect
of heterologous viruses on the efficacy and stability
of PTGS against PPV, transgenic C5 trees were graft-inoculated
with different combinations of Prunus necrotic
ringspot virus (PNRSV), Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus
(ACLSV), Prune dwarf virus (PDV) and PPV-D strain.
The potential for suppression of the silencing mechanism
mediated by these viruses was evaluated. Challenge
experiments were performed under greenhouse,
nursery and field conditions in Romania and Spain,
comprising two different environments, continental and
Mediterranean, respectively. Virus infections were evaluated
by visual monitoring of symptom and by serological
and molecular assays. The engineered resistance to
PPV in C5 transgenic plums was stable and was not
suppressed by the presence of the challenging heterologous
viruses over a three-year experimental period
across all trials.

Cuvinte cheie: Honey Sweet, engineered resistance, gene silencing, PPV-D, PDV, PNRSV, ACLSV, co-infection