Quantitative modification of useful components in plants via induction of epigenetic changes

利用一种新型的RNA病毒载体建立了植物基因沉默诱导体系，并对其高效诱导所需的元件进行了鉴定。该系统被用来控制参与植物成分生物合成的基因的表达，这被发现有助于修改有用成分的含量。本研究结果表明，该方法快速诱导的基因沉默可用于植物成分生物合成相关基因的功能分析和植物合成途径的分子育种。

A system for the induction of gene silencing in plants was established using a novel RNA viral vector, and elements necessary for its efficient induction were identified. This system was used to control the expression of genes that were involved in the biosynthesis of plant components, which was found to be useful for modifying the contents of useful components. Results of this study suggested that gene silencing induced rapidly by this method was useful for functional analysis of genes involved in the biosynthesis of plant components and molecular breeding of the pathways.