Author
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GONSALVES, DENNIS - USDA PBARC |
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Submitted to: Advances in Virus Research
Publication Type: Review Article Publication Acceptance Date: 3/14/2006 Publication Date: 10/16/2006 Citation: Gonsalves, D. 2006. Transgenic Papaya: Development, Release, Impact, and Challenges. Advances in Virus Research. 67:317-354. Interpretive Summary: The transgenic papaya cultivars Rainbow and SunUp were commercially released in Hawaii in 1998 and virtually saved Hawaii’s papaya industry from the devastation that was being caused by Papaya ringspot virus. This review provides insights on the important factors that contributed to the timely development and release of the transgenic papaya in Hawaii, and shows the impact that it has had on the Hawaiian papaya industry. Our efforts to transfer the transgenic papaya technology to other countries such as Jamaica, Venezuela, and Thailand are described to point out that factors other then technology do affect the timely transfer of technology. Lastly, the challenges for deregulating the SunUp and Rainbow papaya in Japan are described. Transgenic papaya and squash are the only virus-resistant transgenic crops that are commercially produced in the U.S. This review seeks to provide the 'inside' story on how it was done with the papaya. Technical Abstract: Although the technology for developing virus-resistant transgenic plants through the use of the coat protein of a virus was unveiled twenty years ago, it is surprising to note that only a three virus-resistant plants (squash, potato, and papaya) have been commercialized in the U.S. The transgenic papaya cultivars Rainbow and SunUp were commercially released in Hawaii in 1998 and virtually saved Hawaii’s papaya industry from the devastation that was being caused by Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). This review focuses on the development, release and impact of the PRSV-resistant transgenic. Primary consideration is given to the factors that affected the timely development and deployment, rather then specifics on the technical aspects of the transgenic papaya. Our efforts to transfer the technology to Jamaica, Venezuela, and Thailand are described to point out the factors that have influenced the practical deployment of the transgenic papaya to countries outside of the U.S. Finally, challenges such as durability of resistance, growing of nontransgenic papaya in Hawaii for the Japan market, deregulation of the transgenic papaya in Japanese, and co-existence of transgenic and nontransgenic papaya in Hawaii are discussed. |
