Genes Identified to Protect Brassicas from TuMV

Brassica species, like broccoli, cauliflower, rape, cabbage and mustard, are susceptible to the Turnip Mosaic Virus (TuMV). TuMV causes plant leaf discoloration and necrosis which may result to huge economic losses for farmers . A new way of breeding TuMV-resistant brassicas was described by scientists from the University of Warwick and John Innes Center (UK). The group identified a set of genes that confer resistance to TuMV. Their study, published by the Journal of General Virology, might have broader implications since TuMV is a member of the Potovirus family, the biggest family of viruses that attack plants.

The genes, which include retr01 and ConTR01, determine the plant response to virus attack. Plants can kill infected cells, thereby restricting viral infection in certain areas. They can also restrict viral spread from leaf to leaf. John Walsh, the research group leader said “By breeding these genes into commercial varieties of the crop, using conventional techniques, breeders can protect them from attack. But most importantly, we have identified broad-spectrum resistance provided by a number of genes. This means we potentially have the means to develop brassicas, such as broccoli, that will be robust enough to prevent the virus mutating to overcome the resistance.”

 Read more at http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/media/pressreleases/071101_genes_brassicas.html Read the abstract of the paper at http://vir.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/88/11/3177