IMPROVEMENT OF RESISTANCE TO PLANT PATHOGENS AND PESTS BY DNA TECHNOLOGY

Authors: Ueng, Peter; Hsu, Hei Ti; HWANG, S - TAIWAN; YANG, M - TAIWAN; CUI, K - CHINA

Submitted to: Crop Improvement at the Onset of the 3rd Millennium
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2002
Publication Date: 3/15/2002
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Crop improvement for higher yield with conventional methods seems to have reached a plateau. Worldwide plant disease loss is reported at 60 billion dollars per year. One of the methods for raising crop production is to reduce yield loss due to pathogen and pest infestation. In recent years, DNA technology has been applied to enhance plant resistance against pathogens and pests. In this review paper, progress on the use of DNA markers for resistance gene identification, virus-specific antibody genes for virus control, molecular manipulation for multi-pathogen resistance, and virus-based vectors for efficient gene evaluation are discussed. This information will serve as a valuable reference for scientists and others who are interested in disease control strategies.

Technical Abstract: To improve crop yield, DNA technology has been used to enhance plant resistance toward pathogens and pests. Genes identified through understanding of host-pathogen interactions in viral, bacterial and fungal diseases, the mechanism of hypersensitive reaction in Arabidopsis and insect toxicity of natural peptides are used for their expression in plants. Progress on the use of simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers for resistance gene identification, development of virus-specific antibody gene expression in plants for virus control, construction of genes for multi-pathogen resistance, and use of viral vectors for gene efficiency evaluation are discussed.