ARS | Publication request: Application of cisgenesis for development of disease-resistant potatoes

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 15, 2010
Publication Date: August 7, 2010
Citation: Ponciano, G.P., Rommens, C., Rockhold, D.R., Whalen, M.C., Belknap, W.R. 2010. Application of cisgenesis for development of disease-resistant potatoes. The First Agriculture and Food Fair, April 26 to 30, 2010, Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Technical Abstract: Intragenics, also known as cisgenesis, is a plant transformation technology that consists of employing genes, regulatory, and transfer DNA sequences from the respective plant to be transformed. Based on the above definition, transformed intragenic plants are not the conventional genetically modified plant, which commonly contains DNA sequences from sexually incompatible plant species, as well as employing bacterial, viral and synthetic sequences. Current status of the technology will be presented using disease-resistance intragenic constructs (late blight-Phytophthora infestans and potato viruses’) as models. The late blight disease caused by P. infestans, continues to be potato’s most serious disease worldwide. We used an intragenic vector developed by J.R. Simplot Company, and the recently cloned RB resistance gene effective against a wide spectrum of P. infestans races, for the development of late blight-resistant potato. Using the same intragenic vector, we are also developing intragenic potato plants resistant to virus diseases via RNAi.