Mechanism of Disease Resistance in Transgenic Plants

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Mechanism of Disease Resistance in Transgenic Plants: Dr. Beachy recently reported the production of transgenic tobacco plants (plants regenerated from cells into which foreign DNA was introduced by transformation) that expressed the coat protein (CP) gene of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) as a chimeric nuclear gene. These plants and their progeny were less susceptible to infection by TMV, and the appearance of symptoms caused by infection were significantly delayed in the transgenic plants compared to control plants. In addition, some of the transgenic plants escaped infection. Studies are continuing to determine the mechanism(s) that confer resistance to these transgenic plants. These experiments include site directed mutations to alter the amino acid sequence of the TMV- CP, as well as its subcellular localization in transgenic plants. This action provides funds to purchase two pieces of equipment necessary for the successful completion of the work, specifically, a controlled enviornment incubator/shaker for bacterial cultures, and a controlled environment chamber for holding plants that are infected with virus.