Generation of transgenic potato plants highly resistant to potato virus Y (PVY) through RNA silencing

Abstract

In this study we applied RNA silencing to engineer potato plants that are resistant to potato virus Y (PVY). We expressed double-stranded (ds) RNA derived from the 3′ terminal part of the coat protein gene of PVY, which is highly conserved in sequence amongst different PVY isolates, in transgenic potatoes of the commercial variety 'Spunta'. Transgenic plants were analyzed for generation of transgene-derived short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) prior to virus inoculation. Twelve of fifteen transgenic lines produced siRNAs and were highly resistant to three strains of PVY, each belonging to three different subtypes of the virus (PVYN, PVYO and PVYNTN). Infection of transgenic plants with Potato virus X (PVX) simultaneously or prior to the challenge with PVY did not interfere with PVY-resistance.