ARS | Publication request: LACK OF EVIDENCE FOR ALTERATION OF VIRUSES OR FOR ASSISTED INFECTION IN VIRUS INFECTED TRANSGENIC PLANTS

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 29, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: A search was conducted to detect evidence for alteration of viruses effected by viral transgenes and for transgene-assisted infection. This work involved 22 constructs (120 lines) of the coat protein gene (CPG) and two constructs (155 lines) of the replicase gene (RG) of potato leafroll virus (PLRV) in potato and one construct of the CPG of beet curly top virus s(BCTV) in tobacco (10 lines) and tomato (5 lines). The search was conducted among 55,000 plants exposed in the field and among plants inoculated in the greenhouse. Neither transmission characteristics nor serological properties of viruses were altered when they replicated in potato or tomato plants expressing CPG constructs of PLRV or BCTV. Potato plants expressing CPG or RG constructs of PLRV did not acquire susceptibility to viruses that do not normally infect potato. Viruses with altered sedimentation characteristics, symptoms, or host range were not produced in potato plants expressing CPG or RG gene constructs of PLRV.