Coat protein-mediated protection: analysis of transgenic plants for resistance in a variety of crops

Abstract

Since 1986, research has shown that plants expressing the coat protein gene of a plant virus exhibit degrees of resistance or protection when challenge inoculated with that virus or closely related isolates. This phenomenon, called coat protein-mediated protection, sparked research efforts to develop transgenic plants that resist infection to a range of plant viruses. This report summarizes the research efforts that deal with viral coat protein gene-crop combinations of commercial potential. The viruses include tobacco mosaic, potato virus X and Y, cucumber mosaic and papaya ringspot; the crops include tomato, cucumber, tobacco and papaya.