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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Plant Gene Expression Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #168847
Title: VIRUS-INDUCED GENE SILENCING IN SOLANUM SPECIES

Author
item BRIGNETI, GIANINNIA - ARS-UCB PLNT GENE EXP CTR
item MARTIN-HERNANDEZX, ANA - SAINSBURY INNES NORWICH
item JIN, HAILING - ARS-UCB PLNT GENE EXP CTR
item CHEN, JUDY - ARS-UCB PLNT GENE EXP CTR
item BAULCOMBE, DAVID - SAINSBURY INNES NORWICH
item Baker, Barbara
item JONES, JONATHAN D. - SAINSBURY INNES NORWICH

Submitted to: Plant Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2004
Publication Date: 7/1/2004
Citation: Brigneti, G., Martin-Hernandezx, A.M., Jin, H., Chen, J., Baulcombe, D.C., Baker, B.J., Jones, J.G. 2004. Virus-induced gene silencing in solanum species. Plant Journal, 39(2): 264.

Interpretive Summary: Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) has been used routinely in Nicotiana benthamiana to assess functions of candidate genes and as a way to discover new genes required for diverse pathways, especially disease resistance signalling. To test whether the system could be utilised as a rapid way to assess gene function of candidate resistance (R) genes in potato and its wild relatives, we silenced R1 and Rx in S. tuberosum and RB in S. bulbocastanum. Silencing of R1, Rx and RB successfully attenuated R-gene-mediated disease resistance and resulted in susceptible phenotypes in detached leaf assays. Thus, the VIGS system is an effective method of rapidly assessing gene function in potato.

Technical Abstract: Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) has been used routinely in Nicotiana benthamiana to assess functions of candidate genes and as a way to discover new genes required for diverse pathways, especially disease resistance signalling. VIGS has recently been shown to work in Arabidopsis thaliana and in tomato. Here, we report that VIGS using the tobacco rattle virus (TRV) viral vector can be used in several Solanum species, although the choice of vector and experimental conditions vary depending on the species under study. We have successfully silenced the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene in the diploid wild species Solanum bulbocastanum and S. okadae, in the cultivated tetraploid S. tuberosum and in the distant hexaploid relative S. nigrum (commonly known as deadly nightshade). To test whether the system could be utilised as a rapid way to assess gene function of candidate resistance (R) genes in potato and its wild relatives, we silenced R1 and Rx in S. tuberosum and RB in S. bulbocastanum. Silencing of R1, Rx and RB successfully attenuated R-gene-mediated disease resistance and resulted in susceptible phenotypes in detached leaf assays. Thus, the VIGS system is an effective method of rapidly assessing gene function in potato.