Molecular studies of Potato mop-top virus (PMTV) in transgenic N. benthamiana and S. tuberosum

Abstract

Resistance to Potato mop-top virus (PMTV) was studied in Nicotiana benthamiana and potato (Solanum tuberosum cv.Saturna) transformed with the coat protein (CP) gene of PMTV. In N. benthamiana plants mechanically inoculated withPMTV, RNA2 was detected in leaves and roots in several plants in the absence of RNA3. When N. benthamiana wasgrown in infested soil, viral RNA was detected in roots, but no systemic movement of PMTV to above-ground parts wasobserved. The incidence of PMTV infections was reduced in the CP-transgenic potato plants grown in an infested fieldin Sweden. However, in infected tubers, all three virus RNAs were detected.

Keywords

• potato mop-top virus
• spongospora subterranea
• solanum tuberosum
• nicotiana benthamiana
• transgenic resistance