title: Maize streak virus-resistant transgenic maize: a first for Africa.
abstract: In this article, we report transgene-derived resistance in maize to the severe pathogen maize streak virus (MSV). The mutated MSV replication-associated protein gene that was used to transform maize showed stable expression to the fourth generation. Transgenic T2 and T3 plants displayed a significant delay in symptom development, a decrease in symptom severity and higher survival rates than non-transgenic plants after MSV challenge, as did a transgenic hybrid made by crossing T2 Hi-II with the widely grown, commercial, highly MSV-susceptible, white maize genotype WM3. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first maize to be developed with transgenic MSV resistance and the first all-African-produced genetically modified crop plant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa. dionne.shepherd@uct.ac.za
authors.forename: Dionne N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: Tichaona
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mangwende
authors.forename: Darren P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bezuidenhout
authors.forename: Frederik J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Kloppers
authors.forename: Charlene H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Carolissen
authors.forename: Adérito L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Monjane
authors.forename: Edward P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Rybicki
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Thomson
mesh_terms: D026762:Maize streak virus / Q000276:immunology*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D019076:Transgenes; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins