A Single Amino Acid Mutation in the Plum pox virus Helper Component-Proteinase Gene Abolishes Both Synergistic and RNA Silencing Suppression Activities

ABSTRACT The effects on symptom expression of single amino acid mutations in the central region of the Plum pox virus (PPV) helper component-proteinase (HC-Pro) gene were analyzed in Nicotiana benthamiana using Potato virus X (PVX) recombinant viruses. PVX recombinant virus expressing the wild-type variant of PPV HC-Pro induced the expected enhancement of PVX pathogenicity, manifested as necrosis and plant death. Recombinant virus expressing a variant of PPV HC-Pro containing a single point mutation ( HCL(134)H) was unable to induce this synergistic phenotype. The RNA silencing suppressor activity of PPV HC-Pro was demonstrated in a transient silencing suppression assay. In contrast, the HCL(134)H mutant showed no such activity. These results indicate that a unique point mutation in PPV HC-Pro impaired its ability to suppress RNA silencing and abolished its capacity to induce synergism, and clearly shows for the first time the link between these two functions in potyvirus HC-Pro. Additionally, we compared the effects on virus accumulation in N. benthamiana plants infected with either the PVX recombinant constructs or with native viruses in double infection experiments. PVX (+) and (-) strand genomic RNA accumulated at similar levels in plants infected with PVX recombinants, leading to an increase in PVX pathology, compared with plants infected with PVX alone. This finding confirms that the enhancement of pathogenicity associated with synergistic interaction is not a consequence of more efficient PVX replication due to RNA silencing suppression by PPV HC-Pro.     

Coat protein-mediated transgenic resistance in tomato against a IB subgroup Cucumber mosaic virus strain

Transgenic tomato plants containing the coat protein (CP) gene of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) of subgroup IB were developed through Agrobacterium-mediated transformations. The progenies of transgenic plants showed the presence of transgene, its expression and translation of 26 KDa CP. The T₁ and T₂ generation plants were evaluated for resistance against challenge inoculations by a homologous strain of CMV. Visual observations of challenged transgenic plants categorized them into resistant, tolerant and susceptible as compared with untransformed control plants. Out of 33 plants of the T₁ generation, 36.3% showed resistance and remained symptomless throughout their life, 48.4% showed tolerance which developed delayed symptoms of mild mosaic, and 15.1% showed susceptibility to CMV which developed severe systemic mosaic and leaf distortion symptoms after 30?days of virus challenge. Out of 120 plants of the T₂ generation, 60% showed resistance, 26.6% were tolerant and only 13.3% were found susceptible to challenge inoculations of CMV. Resistant transgenic plants also showed less CP accumulation in systemic upper leaves as compared with challenged untransformed plants. In this study, CP of a CMV subgroup IB strain has demonstrated a significant level of resistance in transgenic tomato plants against the CMV strain. The strategy may be applied for better quality and productivity of tomato crops.     

Molecular variability of the 5'- and 3'-terminal regions of citrus tristeza virus RNA

ABSTRACT Isolates of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) differ widely in their biological properties. These properties may depend on the structure of viral RNA populations comprising the different isolates. As a first approach to study the molecular basis of the biological variability, we have compared the sequences of multiple cDNA clones of the two terminal regions of the RNA from different CTV isolates. The polymorphism of the 5' untranslated region (UTR) allowed the classification of the sequences into three groups, with intragroup sequence identity higher than 88% and intergroup sequence identity as low as 44%. The variability of an open reading frame (ORF) 1a segment adjacent to the 5' UTR supports the same grouping. Some CTV isolates contained sequences of more than one group. Most sequences from Spanish isolates belonged to group III, whereas a Japanese isolate was composed mostly of sequences of groups I and II. The mildest isolates contained only sequences of group III, whereas the most severe isolates also contained sequences of groups I, II, or both. The most stable secondary structure predicted for the 5' UTR was composed of two stem-loops and remained essentially unchanged as a result of compensatory mutations in the stems and accommodation of most of the variability in the loops. In contrast to the 5'-terminal region, the variability of the 3'-terminal region of CTV RNA was very much restricted, with nucleotide identity values higher than 90%. The presence of a conserved putative "zinc-finger" domain adjacent to a basic region in p23, the predicted product of ORF 11, suggests that this protein might act as a regulatory factor during virus replication.     

Transgenic potato plants expressing the potato virus X (PVX) coat protein gene developed resistance to the viral infection

The gene coding for potato virus X (PVX) coat protein (CP) was expressed in transgenic potato plants obtained byAgrobacterium tumefaciens transformation. One hundred independent clones were analyzed in challenge experiments for resistance to PVX infection under greenhouse conditions as a preliminary test. From this test, 16 clones with the best resistance results were selected for a small-scale field trial. Clones 54, 60, 73 and 91 demonstrated the best values of resistance to PVX in the field. Statistical analysis of the field trial showed significant differences between means of optical density obtained in ELISA from transgenic clones and non-transformed plants (P<0.05). There was correspondence between resistance to virus infection and expression of the CP gene of PVX virus in the analyzed clones. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 21, 2002. Corresponding author [e-mail: vivian.doreste@cigb.edu.cu].     

Use of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) Rep Gene Sequences to Engineer TYLCV Resistance in Tomato

ABSTRACT Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), a member of the genus Begomovirus (family Geminiviridae), causes severe losses in tomato production in the tropics and subtropics. In order to generate engineered resistance, eight different constructs of the TYLCV replication-associated protein (Rep) and C4 gene sequences were tested in transformed tomato inbred lines. Transgenic plants were screened for resistance to TYLCV using viruliferous whiteflies. No symptoms were observed and no TYLCV genomic DNA was detected by both hybridization and polymerase chain reaction in progenies of plants transformed with three constructs. This resistance was observed in plants that contained one of the following transgenes: 2/5Rep (81 nucleotides [nt] of the intergenic region [IR] plus 426 nt of the 5' end of the TYLCV Rep gene), Delta2/5Rep (85 nt of the IR plus 595 nt of the 5' end of the TYLCV Rep gene in the antisense orientation), and RepDelta2/5Rep (81 nt of the IR, the entire Rep gene, and 41 nt 3' to the end of the Rep gene fused to Delta2/5Rep). Our study differs from other transgenic Geminivirus resistance reports involving the Rep gene in that viruliferous whiteflies were used for challenge inoculation instead of agroinoculation or biolistic inoculation, and TYLCV resistance was evaluated under field conditions.     

Molecular breeding for virus resistant potato plants

To engineer resistance against potato virus X (PVX), the viral coat protein (CP) gene has been introduced into two potato cultivars. Stable expression of the gene in transgenic clones throughout the growing season has been obtained and resulted in considerably increased virus resistance. With varying frequencies depending on the original cultivar used, true-to-type PVX resistant transgenic clones have been obtained. Since deviant light sprout characteristics were invariably associated with aberrations in plant phenotype, they can be used in procedures to early screen for deviations. Furthermore, it has been possible to unequivocally discriminate between the original untransformed and independent transgenic cultivars. Although no relation has been found between the presence, if any, of the CP of potato virus Y (PVY) or potato leafroll virus (PLRV) in CP gene transgenic potato, appreciable levels of resistance to these viruses has been obtained. This suggests that the mechanism by which a viral CP gene in the potato genome evokes resistance, differs amongst various viruses.     

Molecular breeding for virus resistant potato plants

To engineer resistance against potato virus X (PVX), the viral coat protein (CP) gene has been introduced into two potato cultivars. Stable expression of the gene in transgenic clones throughout the growing season has been obtained and resulted in considerably increased virus resistance. With varying frequencies depending on the original cultivar used, true-to-type PVX resistant transgenic clones have been obtained. Since deviant light sprout characteristics were invariably associated with aberrations in plant phenotype, they can be used in procedures to early screen for deviations. Furthermore, it has been possible to unequivocally discriminate between the original untransformed and independent transgenic cultivars. Although no relation has been found between the presence, if any, of the CP of potato virus Y (PVY) or potato leafroll virus (PLRV) in CP gene transgenic potato, appreciable levels of resistance to these viruses has been obtained. This suggests that the mechanism by which a viral CP gene in the potato genome evokes resistance, differs amongst various viruses.     

Reaction of transgenic Citrus sinensis plants to Citrus tristeza virus infection by Toxoptera citricida

Transgenic Citrus sinensis ‘Hamlin’ and ‘Valencia’ plants containing Citrus tristeza virus (CTV)-derived sequences were propagated and inoculated with CTV. For propagation, selected buds from transgenic and non-transgenic control plants were grafted onto C. aurantium and C. limonia rootstock plants. CTV inoculation was performed via viruliferous aphids (Toxoptera citricida), and viral detection post-inoculation was performed through DASI-ELISA or RT-qPCR. After four inoculations, none of the transgenic lines tested showed complete resistance. However, viral multiplication was undetectable in some of the propagated clones. These resistant clones mainly came from transgenic ‘Valencia’ sweet orange plants grafted onto C. limonia rootstock containing the pCTV-CS gene construct. Although the tested viral inoculation method represents natural field infection conditions, the results did not differ significantly from those previously reported when the same transgenic lines were bud-graft inoculated. This finding indicates that the difficulties in producing CTV-resistant transgenic citrus lines may be unrelated to the inoculation method. Transgene expression level was quantified by RT-qPCR analysis and it was not possible to relate transgene mRNA level with resistance to the pathogen.     

利用RNA介导的抗病性获得抗2种病毒的转基因烟草

 RNA介导的病毒抗性(RMVR)是近年发展起来的一种新的植物抗病毒基因工程策略,具有抗病性强、抗性持久、生物安全性高等特点。利用该策略培育多抗病毒植株具有广阔的应用前景和重要的实践意义。本研究将非翻译的马铃薯X病毒的衣壳蛋白(PVX-CP)基因和非翻译的马铃薯Y病毒的衣壳蛋白(PVY-CP)基因组成嵌合基因,构建植物表达载体pROKXY,利用农杆菌介导法转化烟草NC89,获得6株对PVX和PVY的混合侵染表现为免疫的转基因植株。分子分析表明,这种抗性为RNA介导的病毒抗性。这一研究结果为利用RMVR进行植物多抗病毒育种提供了重要数据和资料。     

马铃薯Y病毒CP基因5'端和3'端反向重复结构介导的抗病性研究

 本研究克隆了来源于马铃薯Y病毒坏死株系(PVY^N)外壳蛋白(CP)基因(PVY^N CP)5'端和3'端的反向重复cDNA序列,并构建了植物表达载体pROKⅡ-5'IR和pROKⅡ-3'IR,利用农杆菌介导的叶盘法转化烟草NC89,分别获得166和126株转基因烟草。抗病性试验表明,转化PVY^N CP基因3'端茎50 bp(环50 bp) hpRNA(hairpin RNA)的烟草抗病率达69%,而转化PVY^N CP基因5'端相同片段长度的hpRNA的烟草却全部发病。Southern blot结果表明,转基因植株的抗病性与转基因的拷贝数之间无明显的相关性;Northern blot结果表明,目的片段转录产物的积累量与植株的抗病性呈负相关,证明所获得的抗病性是RNA介导的抗病性。研究结果证明PVY^N CP基因的3'端比5'端更能有效地诱发基因沉默,并且hpRNA茎部的长度可减少到50 bp。该结果为探索利用CP基因的最短长度和有效部位的基因片段来培育多抗病毒转基因植物提供了依据。     

Coat protein-mediated resistance to isolates of barley yellow dwarf in oats and barley

Tissue cultures of GAF30/Park oats were biolistically co-transformed with constructs containing the coat protein (CP) genes of the P-PAV, MAV-PS1 or NY-RPV isolates of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), together with a construct containing the bar gene for herbicide resistance and the uidA reporter gene. Transformed, herbicide-resistant tissue cultures were screened by PCR for the presence of the CP genes. Fertile regenerated plants were recovered from some CP-transformed tissue cultures. T₁ progeny of these plants were screened for resistance to the BYDV isolate corresponding to the introduced gene by inoculation with viruliferous aphids followed by ELISA tests. Variation in ELISA values for GAF30/Park control plants made interpretation of the data difficult, but oat plants resistant to each of the three isolates of BYDV (ELISA values less than 0.3; virus titers equivalent to less than 25% of infected controls) were identified in T₁ generations. Further testing of MAV-PS1 CP-transformed lines to the T₂ generation, NY-RPV CP-transformed lines to the T₃ generation and P-PAV CP-transformed lines to the T₄ generation identified further resistant plants. Similarly, immature embryos and calli of the barley cultivar Golden Promise were biolistically bombarded with constructs containing the CP gene of the P-PAV isolate of BYDV and the bar and uidA reporter genes, lines of self-fertile P-PAV CP-transformed barley plants were developed, and T₁plants were screened for resistance to P-PAV. Eight plants from six lines showed moderate to high levels of resistance to P-PAV that correlated with the presence of the CP gene. Plants giving low ELISA values were also found in other lines, even though the CP gene was not detected in these plants. Some T₂ plants derived from resistant parents that contained the CP gene were themselves highly resistant.     

正向和反向重复RNA介导的抗马铃薯Y病毒基因工程比较研究

 RNA介导的病毒抗性与RNA沉默现象密切相关。反向重复cDNA序列(IR)的转录产物往往形成双链RNA结构,而双链RNA是诱发RNA沉默的有效因子。据此,本研究通过体外合成马铃薯Y病毒坏死株系衣壳蛋白基因(PVY^N-CP)5'端反向重复cDNA序列和正向重复cDNA序列(DR),分别构建植物表达载体pROK-IR和pROK-DR,利用农杆菌介导方法转化烟草NC89,比较这2种转基因烟草在RNA介导抗病性方面的差异。抗病性检测表明,转化IR和DR的转基因烟草均可获得抗病程度达到免疫的植株,但转化IR序列可大大提高抗病植株在转基因植株中的比例。分析结果表明所获得的抗病性为RNA介导的抗病性,是RNA沉默的结果。这一研究结果为利用IR策略进行抗病毒遗传育种提供了理论依据,并为讲一步开展RNA介导抗病性的机制研究奠宗了基础。     

Nucleocapsid Gene-Mediated Transgenic Resistance Provides Protection Against Tomato spotted wilt virus Epidemics in the Field

ABSTRACT Transformation of plants with the nucleocapsid (N) gene of Tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV) provides resistance to disease development; however, information is lacking on the response of plants to natural inoculum in the field. Three tobacco cultivars were transformed with the N gene of a dahlia isolate of TSWV (TSWV-D), and plants were evaluated over several generations in the greenhouse. The resistant phenotype was more frequently observed in 'Burley 21' than in 'KY-14' or 'K-326', but highly resistant 'Burley 21' transgenic lines were resistant to only 44% of the heterologous TSWV isolates tested. Advanced generation (R(3) and R(4)) transgenic resistant lines of 'Burley 21' and a 'K-326' F(1) hybrid containing the N genes of two TSWV isolates were evaluated in the field near Tifton, GA, where TSWV is endemic. Disease development was monitored by symptom expression and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. Whereas incidence of TSWV infection in 'Burley 21' susceptible controls was 20% in 1996 and 62% in 1997, the mean incidence in transgenic lines was reduced to 4 and 31%, respectively. Three transgenic 'Burley 21' lines were identified that had significantly lower incidence of disease than susceptible controls over the two years of the study. In addition, the rate of disease increase at the onset of the 1997 epidemic was reduced for all the 'Burley 21' transgenic lines compared with the susceptible controls. The 'K-326' F(1) hybrid was as susceptible as the 'K-326' nontransformed control. ELISA analysis demonstrated that symptomless plants from the most resistant 'Burley 21' transgenic lines accumulated detectable nucleocapsid protein, whereas symptomless plants from more susceptible lines did not. We conclude that transgenic resistance to TSWV is effective in reducing incidence of the disease in the field, and that accumulation of transgene protein may be important in broad-spectrum resistance.     

hpRNA的茎环比例对RNA介导的病毒抗性产生的影响

 以马铃薯Y病毒坏死株系(PVY^N)的外壳蛋白(coat protein,CP)基因3'端50bp片段为hpRNA的茎,以pUC19不同长度的序列为hpRNA的环,构建了茎环比例分别为4:1、2:1、1:1、1:2、1:4和1:8的植物表达载体。利用农杆菌介导法转化烟草品种NC89,获得了多种转基因植株。室内抗病性检测发现:不同茎环比例的hpRNA介导的病毒抗性效率不同;茎环比例为4:1、2:1和1:1时效率较高,抗性植株的比例达60%左右;随着环长度的逐渐增加,抗性植株的比例逐渐降低;当茎环比例为1:8时,抗性植株的比例仅为9.52%。Southern blot分析结果表明:外源基因已整合于烟草的基因组中,且转基因植株的抗病性与转基因的拷贝数之间无明显的相关性。Northern blot分析结果表明:目的片段转录产物的积累量与植株的抗病性呈负相关,证明所获得的抗病性是RNA介导的。     

Broad-Spectrum Resistance to Different Geographic Strains of Papaya ringspot virus in Coat Protein Gene Transgenic Papaya

ABSTRACT Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) is a major limiting factor for cultivation of papaya (Carica papaya) in tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world. Although the coat protein (CP) gene of PRSV has been transferred into papaya by particle bombardment and transgenic lines with high resistance to Hawaii strains have been obtained, they are susceptible to PRSV isolates outside of Hawaii. This strain-specific resistance limits the application of the transgenic lines in other areas of the world. In this investigation, the CP gene of a local strain isolated from Taiwan, designated PRSV YK, was transferred into papaya via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. A total of 45 putative transgenic lines were obtained and the presence of the transgene in papaya was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction amplification. When the plants of transgenic lines were challenged with PRSV YK by mechanical inoculation, they showed different levels of resistance ranging from delay of symptom development to complete immunity. Molecular analysis of nine selected lines that exhibited different levels of resistance revealed that the expression level of the transgene is negatively correlated with the degree of resistance, suggesting that the resistance is manifested by a RNA-mediated mechanism. The segregation analysis showed that the transgene in the immune line 18-0-9 has an inheritance of two dominant loci and the other four highly resistant lines have a single dominant locus. Seven selected lines were tested further for resistance to three PRSV heterologous strains that originated in Hawaii, Thailand, and Mexico. Six of the seven lines showed varying degrees of resistance to the heterologous strains, and one line, 19-0-1, was immune not only to the homologous YK strain but also to the three heterologous strains. Thus, these CP-transgenic papaya lines with broad-spectrum resistance have great potential for use in Taiwan and other geographic areas to control PRSV.