Cucumber mosaic virus coat protein-mediated protection

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Transgenic tobacco plants (CP +) that express the coat protein gene of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)-Y strain were highly protected from infection with either CMV virions or CMV RNA, while transgenic protoplasts were also protected from infection with CMV virions but not with CMV RNA. CP + plants showed greater susceptibility to infection with satellite RNA-free CMV-Y than CMV-Y containing satellite RNA. At temperatures above 30°C, CP + plants did not or poorly resist infection with CMV. Elevated temperature affected the accumulation of CP rather than its mRNA, suggesting that CP molecules are mainly involved in virus resistance in CP + plants.