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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #322754
Title: Virus-induced gene silencing and transient gene expression in soybean using Bean pod mottle virus infectious clones

Author
item WHITHAM, STEVEN - Iowa State University
item Lincoln, Lori
item CHOWDA-REDDY, R.V. - Iowa State University
item DITTMAN, JAIME - Iowa State University
item O`Rourke, Jamie
item Graham, Michelle

Submitted to: Current Protocols in Plant Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/2016
Publication Date: 6/10/2016
Citation: Whitham, S.A., Lincoln, L.M., Chowda-Reddy, R., Dittman, J.D., O'Rourke, J.A., Graham, M.A. 2016. Virus-induced gene silencing and transient gene expression in soybean using Bean pod mottle virus infectious clones. Current Protocols in Plant Biology. doi:10.1002/cppb.20012.

Interpretive Summary: Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a powerful tool for determining plant gene function. Viral genomes can be altered to carry small fragments of plant genes of interest. When the engineered virus is used to infect experimental plants, it silences the activity of the corresponding gene in the plant. In addition, viral genomes can be altered to carry and over express foreign genes from other species. Scientists can then study the virus treated plants for changes in traits related to the silenced or over expressed genes of interest. In soybean, the Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) is a valuable tool for silencing or over-expressing foreign genes with diverse functions. This protocol describes a method for designing BPMV constructs and using them to silence or transiently express genes in soybean.

Technical Abstract: Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a powerful and rapid approach for determining the functions of plant genes. The basis of VIGS is that a viral genome is engineered so that it can carry fragments of plant genes, typically in the 200-300 base pair size range. The recombinant viruses are used to infect experimental plants, and wherever the virus invades, the target gene or genes will be silenced. VIGS is thus transient, and in the span of a few weeks, it is possible to design VIGS constructs and then generate loss-of-function phenotypes through RNA silencing of the target genes. In soybean, the Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) has been engineered to be valuable tool for silencing genes with diverse functions and over-expression them. This protocol describes a method for designing BPMV constructs and using them to silence or transiently express genes in soybean.