Transgenic resistance to cucumber mosaic virus in tomato: blocking of long-distance movement of the virus in lines harboring a defective viral replicase gene

Immunity to tomato yellow leaf curl virus in transgenic tomato is associated with accumulation of transgene small RNA

Gene silencing is a natural defense response of plants against invading RNA and DNA viruses. The RNA post-transcriptional silencing system has been commonly utilized to generate transgenic crop plants that are "immune" to plant virus infection. Here, we applied this approach against the devastating DNA virus tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) in its host tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). To generate broad resistance to a number of different TYLCV viruses, three conserved sequences (the intergenic region [NCR], V1-V2 and C1-C2 genes) from the genome of the severe virus (TYLCV) were synthesized as a single insert and cloned into a hairpin configuration in a binary vector, which was used to transform TYLCV-susceptible tomato plants. Eight of 28 independent transgenic tomato lines exhibited immunity to TYLCV-Is and to TYLCV-Mld, but not to tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus, which shares relatively low sequence homology with the transgene. In addition, a marker-free (nptII-deleted) transgenic tomato line was generated for the first time by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation without antibiotic selection, followed by screening of 1180 regenerated shoots by whitefly-mediated TYLCV inoculation. Resistant lines showed a high level of transgene-siRNA (t-siRNA) accumulation (22% of total small RNA) with dominant sizes of 21 nt (73%) and 22 nt (22%). The t-siRNA displayed hot-spot distribution ("peaks") along the transgene, with different distribution patterns than the viral-siRNA peaks observed in TYLCV-infected tomato. A grafting experiment demonstrated the mobility of 0.04% of the t-siRNA from transgenic rootstock to non-transformed scion, even though scion resistance against TYLCV was not achieved.

Transgenic resistance

Transgenic resistance to plant viruses is an important technology for control of plant virus infection, which has been demonstrated for many model systems, as well as for the most important plant viruses, in terms of the costs of crop losses to disease, and also for many other plant viruses infecting various fruits and vegetables. Different approaches have been used over the last 28 years to confer resistance, to ascertain whether particular genes or RNAs are more efficient at generating resistance, and to take advantage of advances in the biology of RNA interference to generate more efficient and environmentally safer, novel "resistance genes." The approaches used have been based on expression of various viral proteins (mostly capsid protein but also replicase proteins, movement proteins, and to a much lesser extent, other viral proteins), RNAs [sense RNAs (translatable or not), antisense RNAs, satellite RNAs, defective-interfering RNAs, hairpin RNAs, and artificial microRNAs], nonviral genes (nucleases, antiviral inhibitors, and plantibodies), and host-derived resistance genes (dominant resistance genes and recessive resistance genes), and various factors involved in host defense responses. This review examines the above range of approaches used, the viruses that were tested, and the host species that have been examined for resistance, in many cases describing differences in results that were obtained for various systems developed in the last 20 years. We hope this compilation of experiences will aid those who are seeking to use this technology to provide resistance in yet other crops, where nature has not provided such.

Expression of artificial microRNAs in tomato confers efficient and stable virus resistance in a cell-autonomous manner

Expression of artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) in plants can target and degrade the invading viral RNA, consequently conferring virus resistance. Two amiRNAs, targeting the coding sequence shared by the 2a and 2b genes and the highly conserved 3' untranslated region (UTR) of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), respectively, were generated and introduced into the susceptible tomato. The transgenic tomato plants expressing amiRNAs displayed effective resistance to CMV infection and CMV mixed with non-targeted viruses, including tobacco mosaic virus and tomato yellow leaf curl virus. A series of grafting assays indicate scions originated from the transgenic tomato plant maintain stable resistance to CMV infection after grafted onto a CMV-infected rootstock. However, the grafting assay also suggests that the amiRNA-mediated resistance acts in a cell-autonomous manner and the amiRNA signal cannot be transmitted over long distances through the vascular system. Moreover, transgenic plants expressing amiRNA targeting the 2a and 2b viral genes displayed slightly more effective to repress CMV RNA accumulation than transgenic plants expressing amiRNA targeting the 3' UTR of viral genome did. Our work provides new evidence of the use of amiRNAs as an effective approach to engineer viral resistance in the tomato and possibly in other crops.

Resistance to Cucumber mosaic virus in Gladiolus plants transformed with either a defective replicase or coat protein subgroup II gene from Cucumber mosaic virus

Transgenic Gladiolus plants that contain either Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) subgroup I coat protein, CMV subgroup II coat protein, CMV replicase, a combination of the CMV subgroups I and II coat proteins, or a combination of the CMV subgroup II coat protein and replicase genes were developed. These plants were multiplied in vitro and challenged with purified CMV isolated from Gladiolus using a hand-held gene gun. Three out of 19 independently transformed plants expressing the replicase gene under control of the duplicated CaMV 35S promoter were found to be resistant to CMV subgroup I. Three out of 21 independently transformed plants with the CMV subgroup II coat protein gene under control of the Arabidopsis UBQ3 promoter were resistant to CMV subgroup II. Eighteen independently transformed plants with either the CMV subgroup I coat protein or a combination of CMV subgroups I and II coat proteins were challenged and found to be susceptible to both CMV subgroups I or II. Virus resistant plants with the CMV replicase transgene expressed much lower RNA levels than resistant plants expressing the CMV subgroup II coat protein. This work will facilitate the evaluation of virus resistance in transgenic Gladiolus plants to yield improved floral quality and productivity.

Genome analysis and genetic enhancement of tomato

The Solanaceae is an important family of vegetable crops, ornamentals and medicinal plants. Tomato has served as a model member of this family largely because of its enriched cytogenetic, genetic, as well as physical, maps. Mapping has helped in cloning several genes of importance such as Pto, responsible for resistance against bacterial speck disease, Mi-1.2 for resistance against nematodes, and fw2.2 QTL for fruit weight. A high-throughput genome-sequencing program has been initiated by an international consortium of 10 countries. Since heterochromatin has been found to be concentrated near centromeres, the consortium is focusing on sequencing only the gene-rich euchromatic region. Genomes of the members of Solanaceae show a significant degree of synteny, suggesting that the tomato genome sequence would help in the cloning of genes for important traits from other Solanaceae members as well. ESTs from a large number of cDNA libraries have been sequenced, and microarray chips, in conjunction with wide array of ripening mutants, have contributed immensely to the understanding of the fruit-ripening phenomenon. Work on the analysis of the tomato proteome has also been initiated. Transgenic tomato plants with improved abiotic stress tolerance, disease resistance and insect resistance, have been developed. Attempts have also been made to develop tomato as a bioreactor for various pharmaceutical proteins. However, control of fruit quality and ripening remains an active and challenging area of research. Such efforts should pave the way to improve not only tomato, but also other solanaceous crops.

Post-transcriptional gene silencing and virus resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana expressing a Grapevine virus A minireplicon

Grapevine virus A (GVA) is closely associated with the economically important rugose-wood disease of grapevine. In an attempt to develop GVA resistance, we made a GFP-tagged GVA-minireplicon and utilized it as a tool to consistently activate RNA silencing. Launching the GVA-minireplicon by agroinfiltration delivery resulted in a strong RNA silencing response. In light of this finding, we produced transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants expressing the GVA-minireplicon, which displayed phenotypes that could be attributed to reproducibly and consistently activate post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). These included: (i) low accumulation of the minireplicon-derived transgene; (ii) low GFP expression that was increased upon agroinfiltration delivery of viral suppressors of silencing; and (iii) resistance against GVA infection, which was found in 60%, and in 90-95%, of T1 and T2 progenies, respectively. A grafting assay revealed that non-silenced scions exhibited GVA resistance when they were grafted onto silenced rootstocks, suggesting transmission of RNA silencing from silenced rootstocks to non-silenced scions. Despite being extremely resistant to GVA infection, the transgenic plants were susceptible to the closely related vitivirus, GVB. Furthermore, infection of the silenced plants with GVB or Potato virus Y (PVY) resulted in suppression of the GVA-specific defense. From these data we conclude that GVA-minireplicon-mediated RNA silencing provides an important and efficient approach for consistent activation of PTGS that can be used for controlling grapevine viruses. However, application of this strategy for virus resistance necessitates consideration of possible infection by other viruses.

Twenty years of transgenic plants resistant to Cucumber mosaic virus

Plant genetic engineering has promised researchers improved speed and flexibility with regard to the introduction of new traits into cultivated crops. A variety of approaches have been applied to produce virus-resistant transgenic plants, some of which have proven to be remarkably successful. Studies on transgenic resistance to Cucumber mosaic virus probably have been the most intense of any plant virus. Several effective strategies based on pathogen-derived resistance have been identified; namely, resistance mediated by the viral coat protein, the viral replicase, and post-transcriptional gene silencing. Techniques using non-pathogen-derived resistance strategies, some of which could offer broader resistance, generally have proven to be much less effective. Not only do the results obtained so far provide a useful guide to help focus on future strategies, but they also suggest that there are a number of possible mechanisms involved in conferring these resistances. Further detailed studies on the interplay between viral transgene-derived molecules and their host are needed in order to elucidate the mechanisms of resistance and pathogenicity.

Transgenic cucumbers harboring the 54-kDa putative gene of Cucumber fruit mottle mosaic tobamovirus are highly resistant to viral infection and protect non-transgenic scions from soil infection

Cucumber fruit mottle mosaic tobamovirus (CFMMV) causes severe mosaic symptoms and yellow mottling on leaves and fruits and, occasionally, severe wilting of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants. No genetic source of resistance against this virus has been identified in cucumber. The gene coding for the putative 54-kDa replicase gene of CFMMV was cloned into an Agrobacterium tumefaciens binary vector, and transformation was performed on cotyledon explants of a parthenocarpic cucumber cultivar. R1 seedlings were screened for resistance to CFMMV by symptom expression, back inoculation on an alternative host and ELISA. From a total of 14 replicase-containing R1 lines, eight resistant lines were identified. Line 144--homozygous for the putative 54-kDa replicase gene--was immune to CFMMV infection by mechanical and graft inoculation, and to root infection following planting in CFMMV-infested soil. A substantial delay of symptom appearance was observed following infection by three additional cucurbit-infecting tobamoviruses. When used as a rootstock, line I44 protected susceptible cucumber scions from soil infection by CFMMV. This paper is the first report on protection of a susceptible cultivar against a soil-borne viral pathogen, by grafting onto a transgenic rootstock.

Cucumoviruses

Research on the molecular biology of cucumoviruses and their plant-virus interactions has been very extensive in the last decade. Cucumovirus genome structures have been analyzed, giving new insights into their genetic variability, evolution, and taxonomy. A new viral gene has been discovered, and its role in promoting virus infection has been delineated. The localization and various functions of each viral-encoded gene product have been established. The particle structures of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and Tomato aspermy virus have been determined. Pathogenicity domains have been mapped, and barriers to virus infection have been localized. The movement pathways of the viruses in some hosts have been discerned, and viral mutants affecting the movement processes have been identified. Host responses to viral infection have been characterized, both temporally and spatially. Progress has been made in determining the mechanisms of replication, gene expression, and transmission of CMV. The pathogenicity determinants of various satellite RNAs have been characterized, and the importance of secondary structure in satellite RNA-mediated interactions has been recognized. Novel plant genes specifying resistance to infection by CMV have been identified. In some cases, these genes have been mapped, and one resistance gene to CMV has been isolated and characterized. Pathogen-derived resistance has been demonstrated against CMV using various segments of the CMV genome, and the mechanisms of some of these forms of resistances have been analyzed. Finally, the nature of synergistic interactions between CMV and other viruses has been characterized. This review highlights these various achievements in the context of the previous work on the biology of cucumoviruses and their interactions with plants.

A cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) RNA 1 transgene mediates suppression of the homologous viral RNA 1 constitutively and prevents CMV entry into the phloem

Resistance to Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in tobacco lines transformed with CMV RNA 1 is characterized by reduced virus accumulation in the inoculated leaf, with specific suppression of accumulation of the homologous viral RNA 1, and by the absence of systemic infection. We show that the suppression of viral RNA 1 occurs in protoplasts from resistant transgenic plants and therefore is not due to a host response activated by the cell-to-cell spread of virus. In contrast, suppression of Tobacco rattle virus vectors carrying CMV RNA 1 sequences did not occur in protoplasts from resistant plants. Furthermore, steady-state levels of transgene mRNA 1 were higher in resistant than in susceptible lines. Thus, the data indicate that sequence homology is not sufficient to induce suppression. Grafting experiments using transgenic resistant or susceptible rootstocks and scions demonstrated that the resistance mechanism exhibited an additional barrier to phloem entry, preventing CMV from moving a long distance in resistant plants. On the other hand, virus from susceptible rootstocks could systemically infect grafted resistant scions via the phloem. Analysis of viral RNA accumulation in the infected scions showed that the mechanism that suppresses the accumulation of viral RNA 1 at the single-cell level was overcome. The data indicate that this transgene-mediated systemic resistance probably is not based on a posttranscriptional gene-silencing mechanism.

New Source of Resistance to Cucumber mosaic virus in Capsicum frutescens

A small-fruited pungent pepper accession, Capsicum frutescens 'BG2814-6', is resistant to several isolates of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Resistance in BG2814-6 is incompletely penetrant and is controlled by at least two major recessive genes. The accession BG2814-6 and C. annuum 'Perennial', the leading source of CMV tolerance, appear to share one or more CMV resistance genes. CMV was detected in uninoculated leaves in a small percentage of both BG2814-6 and Perennial plants, indicating that resistance is not absolute in either genotype. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay absorbance values of samples taken from inoculated leaves corresponded well with visible viral symptoms for parental genotypes. While Perennial plants accumulated CMV antigen in inoculated leaves, CMV antigen was not detected in inoculated leaves of 73% of BG2814-6 plants, suggesting that there may be a mechanistic difference in resistance between the two genotypes.

Transgene translatability increases effectiveness of replicase-mediated resistance to cucumber mosaic virus

Transgenic tobacco plants expressing an altered form of the 2a replicase gene from the Fny strain of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) exhibit suppressed virus replication and restricted virus movement when inoculated mechanically or by aphid vectors. Additional transformants have been generated which contain replicase gene constructs designed to determine the role(s) of transgene mRNA and/or protein in resistance. Resistance to systemic disease caused by CMV, as well as delayed infection, was observed in several lines of transgenic plants which were capable of expressing either full-length or truncated replicase proteins. In contrast, among plants which contained nontranslatable transgene constructs, only one of 61 lines examined exhibited delays or resistance. Once infected, plants never recovered, regardless of transgene translatability. Transgenic plants exhibiting a range of resistance levels were examined for transgene copy number, mRNA and protein levels. Although ribonuclease protection assays demonstrated that transgene mRNA levels were very low, resistant lines had consistently more steady-state transgene mRNA than susceptible lines. Furthermore, chlorotic or necrotic local lesions developed on the inoculated leaves of transgenic lines containing translatable transgenes, but not on inoculated leaves of lines containing nontranslatable transgenes. These results demonstrate that translatability of the transgene and possibly expression of the transgene protein itself facilitates replicase-mediated resistance to CMV in tobacco.