title: Efficient double-stranded RNA production methods for utilization in plant virus control.
abstract: Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is an inducer molecule of the RNA silencing (RNA interference, RNAi) pathway that is present in all higher eukaryotes and controls gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. This mechanism allows the cell to recognize aberrant genetic material in a highly sequence specific manner. This ultimately leads to degradation of the homologous target sequence, rendering the plant cell resistant to subcellular pathogens. Consequently, dsRNA-mediated resistance has been exploited in transgenic plants to convey resistance against viruses. In addition, it has been shown that enzymatically synthesized specific dsRNA molecules can be applied directly onto plant tissue to induce resistance against the cognate virus. This strongly implies that dsRNA molecules are applicable as efficacious agents in crop protection, which will fuel the demand for cost-effective dsRNA production methods. In this chapter, the different methods for dsRNA production-both in vitro and in vivo-are described in detail.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Breeding and Biometry, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Athens, 11855, Greece, avoloud@aua.gr.
authors.forename: Andreas E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Voloudakis
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Holeva
authors.forename: L Peter
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Sarin
authors.forename: Dennis H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bamford
authors.forename: Marisol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Minna M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Poranen
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tenllado
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D010942:Plant Viruses / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D044224:Pseudomonas syringae / Q000235:genetics; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded