ISHS Acta Horticulturae 974: II Genetically Modified Organisms in Horticulture Symposium
RNAI-MEDIATED RESISTANCE AGAINST BANANA BUNCHY TOP VIRUS (BBTV) IN 'GRAND NAIN' BANANA |
| Authors: | B. Krishna, A.A. Kadu, S.N. Vyavhare, R.S. Chaudhary, S.S. Joshi, A.B. Patil, V.R. Subramaniam, P.V. Sane |
| Keywords: | transgenic banana, post transcriptional gene silencing, transformation, vacuum infiltration |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.974.18 |
| Abstract:
Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is one of the major viral diseases in banana and affects banana growing areas in all parts of the world. Disease control is limited to the control of vector and use of virus free planting material. No genetic source of BBTV resistance has been reported to date. Moreover, the breeding process is also very tedious in banana due to the triploid nature of table banana and not feasible. Therefore, an attempt was made to impart BBTV resistance in banana using four components of the BBTV viral genome through RNAi (RNA interference) technique. The Gateway cloning system was used to clone viral DNA segments and insert clone in binary vector pK7GWIWG2(I),0. Banana scalps of the ‘Grand Nain’ cultivar (AAA) were transformed using A. tumefaciens strain EHA 105 and the transformants were selected on 150 mg/L kanamycin. Gene-specific and vector-specific primers were used for confirmation of transformants. Based on the PCR results, the overall transformation success rate was found to be 1.22%. Positive plants were challenged with vectors carrying the virus at two stages of growth namely nursery stage (12 weeks after transfer from tissue culture) and 36 weeks after hardening. Transgenic plants challenged at the nursery stage showed a delay of 12 weeks in appearance of symptoms as compared to wild type. Whereas, no symptoms were observed in 24 week old transgenic plants inoculated with virus. This experiment revealed that these transgenic plants may not be immune to virus infection but they may exhibit partial resistance or tolerance. | |
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