Transgenic watermelon rootstock resistant to CGMMV (cucumber green mottle mosaic virus) infection.
In watermelon, grafting of seedlings to rootstocks is necessary because watermelon roots are less viable than the rootstock. Moreover, commercially important watermelon varieties require disease-resistant rootstocks to reduce total watermelon yield losses due to infection with viruses such as cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV). Therefore, we undertook to develop a CGMMV-resistant watermelon rootstock using a cDNA encoding the CGMMV coat protein gene (CGMMV-CP), and successfully transformed a watermelon rootstock named 'gongdae'. The transformation rate was as low as 0.1-0.3%, depending on the transformation method used (ordinary co-culture vs injection, respectively). However, watermelon transformation was reproducibly and reliably achieved using these two methods. Southern blot analysis confirmed that the CGMMV-CP gene was inserted into different locations in the genome either singly or multiple copies. Resistance testing against CGMMV showed that 10 plants among 140 T1 plants were resistant to CGMMV infection. This is the first report of the development by genetic engineering of watermelons resistant to CGMMV infection.
Park
Sang Mi
SM
Biotechnology Center, Nong Woo Bio, Jeongdan, Ganam, Yeoju, Gyeonggi, 469-884, Korea. smpark0304@nongwoobio.co.kr
Lee
Jung Suk
JS
Jegal
Sung
S
Jeon
Bo Young
BY
Jung
Min
M
Park
Yoon Sik
YS
Han
Sang Lyul
SL
Shin
Yoon Sup
YS
Her
Nam Han
NH
Lee
Jang Ha
JH
Lee
Mi Yeon
MY
Ryu
Ki Hyun
KH
Yang
Seung Gyun
SG
Harn
Chee Hark
CH
D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D029773:Citrullus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D017898:Tobamovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D014170:Transformation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
D036022:Capsid Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary