German Researchers Working to Develop Virus-Resistant Grapevines
July 3, 2009| |
The Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) is a big problem for grapevine growers. The virus causes the dreaded fanleaf disease characterized by deformed and yellowed leaves and smaller grapes, resulting to yield loss and in extreme cases, crop loss. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME in Aachen, Germany are now developing genetically modified grape varieties resistant to the virus. The scientists are modifying plants to produce antibodies.
At its early stage in the study, the antibody gene is introduced and allowed to express in a model plant. Initial result shows that the modified plants are up to 100 percent resistant to the virus. "The antibody is produced very effectively inside the plants," says Steffan Schillberg, leader of the study. "The next step on the agenda is to test the method on actual grapevines and then to carry out field tests."
More information is available at http://www.fraunhofer.de/
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