title: Transgenic watermelon rootstock resistant to CGMMV (cucumber green mottle mosaic virus) infection.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Center, Nong Woo Bio, Jeongdan, Ganam, Yeoju, Gyeonggi, 469-884, Korea. smpark0304@nongwoobio.co.kr
authors.forename: Sang Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jung Suk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jegal
authors.forename: Bo Young
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Yoon Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang Lyul
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yoon Sup
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Nam Han
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Her
authors.forename: Jang Ha
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mi Yeon
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ki Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Seung Gyun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chee Hark
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Harn
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary