Transgenic expression of coat protein gene of Rice tungro bacilliform virus in rice reduces the accumulation of viral DNA in inoculated plants.
Rice tungro, a devastating disease of rice in south and southeast Asia, is caused by the joint infection of Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) and Rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV). In order to obtain transgenic resistance against RTBV, indica rice cultivar Pusa Basmati-1 was transformed to express the coat protein (CP) gene of an Indian isolate of RTBV. Rice plants containing the transgene integrated in low copy numbers were obtained, in which the CP was shown to accumulate in the leaf tissue. The progenies representing three independent transformation events were challenged with Indian isolates of RTBV using viruliferous Green leafhoppers, and the viral titers in the inoculated plants were monitored using DNA dot-blot hybridization. As compared to non-transgenic controls, two independent transgenic lines showed significantly low levels of RTBV DNA, especially towards later stages of infection and a concomitant reduction of tungro symptoms.
Ganesan
Uma
U
Plant Polyamine and Transgenic Research Laboratory, Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi 110021, India.
Suri
Sarabjeet Singh
SS
Rajasubramaniam
Shanmugam
S
Rajam
Manchikatla Venkat
MV
Dasgupta
Indranil
I
D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015870:Gene Expression; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D052641:Tungrovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D019193:Waikavirus / Q000254:growth & development
D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral