University of Florida Research Foundation Inc

Ernest Hiebert

Raghavan Charudattan

Matthew Scott Pettersen

Jane E Polston

Wayne B Hunter

Ahmed M Abouzid

The subject invention concerns materials and methods for providing genetically-engineered resistance in plants to tomato yellow leaf curl geminivirus using a truncated version of the replication associated protein (Rep) gene of TYLCV. Virus-resistant plants produced according to the present invention have horticulturally acceptable phenotypic traits. Methods of the invention comprise transforming a plant with a polynucleotide wherein when the polynucleotide is expressed in the plant, the transformed plant exhibits resistance to plant viral infections. An exemplified embodiment utilizes a polynucleotide comprising a truncated Rep gene derived from a Florida isolate of TYLCV-Is. The methods of the invention can be used to provide resistance to TYLCV infection in plants such as tomato and tobacco. The present invention also concerns transformed and transgenic plants and plant tissue that express a polynucleotide comprising a truncated Rep gene of TYLCV.

Materials and methods for producing tomato yellow leaf curl virus resistance in plants

Tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV) induces a lethal, systemic, hypersensitive response in Tropical Soda Apple (TSA). This response could be used to kill TSA. TMGMV could be developed and used as a bioherbicide to control TSA. TMGMV is a member of the tobamoviruses, which consist of mechanically transmitted, rod-shaped, RNA viruses that are strictly plant pathogens.

Use of tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV) mediated lethal hypersensitive response (HR) as a novel method of weed control

The subject invention pertains to materials and methods for producing plants that are resistant to infection by geminiviruses and other related viruses. Methods of the invention comprise transforming a plant with a polynucleotide wherein when the polynucleotide is expressed in the plant, the transformed plant exhibits resistance to plant viral infections. Exemplified herein is the use of a polynucleotide encoding a Rep protein derived from tomato mottle geminivirus. The methods of the invention can be used to provide resistance to viral infection in plants such as tomato and tobacco. The present invention also concerns transformed and transgenic plants in plant tissue that express a polynucleotide encoding a plant virus Rep protein, or a fragment or variant thereof.

Materials and methods for producing geminivirus resistant plants

Tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV) induces a lethal, systemic, hypersensitive response in Tropical Soda Apple (TSA). TMGMV is a member of the tobamoviruses, which consist of mechanically transmitted, rod-shaped, RNA viruses that are strictly plant pathogens.

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Gainesville, FL, United States of America

Ernest Hiebert