ARS | Publication request: DEREGULATION OF PLUM POX RESISTANT TRANSGENIC PLUM 'HONEYSWEET'

Submitted to: Compact Fruit Tree
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: November 5, 2006
Publication Date: December 18, 2006
Citation: Scorza, R. 2006. Deregulation of plum pox resistant transgenic plum 'Honeysweet'. Compact Fruit Tree. 39:29-30.

Technical Abstract: Plum pox virus (PPV) causes Sharka disease, the most serious virus disease of stone fruits which include peach, nectarine, plum, apricot, almonds and cherries. Symptoms of plum pox infection include leaf and fruit yellowing, fruit deformation, premature fruit drop, and tree decline. PPV is an invasive species not native to the U.S. Its discovery in Pennsylvania was followed by an eradication program that has cost over $40 million, and the destruction of over 1600 acres of stone fruit trees. A PPV resistant plum variety 'HoneySweet' has been developed through genetic engineering (GE). It has been shown to be highly resistant in over eight years of field testing. Based on its high level of resistance, and excellent fruit quality and productivity, 'HoneySweet' has been submitted for deregulation. Successful deregulation would provide plum breeders with a new, highly resistant plum variety that could be used as a parent in developing additional resistant varieties. This GE resistance technology can also be applied to other stone fruits. Protecting stone fruit production against future invasions of PPV protects U.S. agricultural production, the nations food supply, and U.S. agricultural exports.