"Papaya Cultivar with Genetically Engineered Resistance to Papaya
Ringspot Virus"
Description
A new form of 'Sunset' papaya, genetically engineered with a gene that
confers resistance to papaya ringspot virus (PRV). PRV causes a serious
disease of papayas and is spread by aphids. Disease symptoms include stunted
growth, fruit deformities, and leaf chlorosis or premature yellowing.
Additionally, dark green rings appear on the fruits, giving the disease
its name. The isolated resistance gene codes for the coat protein of PRV.
Expression of the coat protein gene by papaya cells disrupts the ability
of the virus to replicate in the plant, making the papaya cultivar resistant
to viral infection.
Applications
Once stably inserted into a papaya chromosome by genetic engineering,
the resistant gene is inherited by seedling progenies, and easily transferred
to other papaya cultivars by conventional breeding methods.
Main Advantages
Because PRV makes production of papaya impossible, the resistant cultivar
will allow papaya to remain an important crop in Hawaiëi. Furthermore,
the specificity of the resistance, which is most effective against the
Hawaiian strain of PRV, will principally benefit the Hawaiian growers,
but be of little use to competitors troubled by other strains of PRV.
Inventors
Richard Manshardt
Horticulture, University of Hawaiëi
Maureen Fitch
Agricultural Research Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Sugarcane Production Laboratory
Aiea, Hawaiëi
Dennis Gonsalves
Cornell University
Support
Jerry Slightom
The Upjohn Company
For licensing information, please contact Jonathan Roberts at robertsj@hawaii.edu
For all other inquiries, please write to:
University of Hawaii
Office of Technology Transfer and Economic Development
2800 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 280
Honolulu, HI 96822.
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