Author
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Hammond, Rosemarie |
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Zhao, Yan |
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Owens, Robert |
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Submitted to: Focus
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 5/13/1999 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Gene delivery systems employing plant viruses are being developed and used to test proteins or nucleic acids having the potential to control diseases caused by viroids. Viroids are the smallest known plant pathogens and they infect many economically important crop plants. Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) infection of tomato results in foliage symptoms suggestive of growth abnormalities. PSTVd multiplies and moves in its plant host by using self-encoded sequences and its presence triggers a defense response in the plant host. We have used plant virus vectors to study the molecular basis of this host response to infection. Using vectors based on tobacco mosaic virus and potato virus X we have demonstrated 1) the ability of viroids to target non-viroid sequences into the nucleus and 2) the biological role of a tomato gene in viroid disease. The results have important implications for improved control strategies for rviroid diseases and will be of use to scientists and ultimately of benefit to growers and consumers. Technical Abstract: |
