Gene-for-gene interactions are required for disease resistance mediated by virus transgene

Abstract

Plant viruses cause severe damage and significant economic losses to agriculture. Control of virus usually consist of the elimination of virus vectors (insects, nematodes, fungi, etc), improvement of the sanitary status of the propagation material, the use of resistance sources in breeding programs. The application of the pathogen-derived resistance strategy has opened new avenues to protect plants against viruses. Two molecular mechanisms seem to underlie the engineered protection, the virus transgene-derived protein and the transgene-RNA interference. A few examples that support the efficiencies of these two molecular mechanisms are reviewed here and discussed in light of the potential use of virusresistant transgenic plants in agriculture.