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Resistance to rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) in cultivated African rice varieties containing RYMV transgenes

Nature Biotechnology volume 17, pages 702–707 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

The disease caused by rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) is a serious problem for African rice growers in large-scale irrigated programs. As there are very few suitable natural sources of RYMV resistance, we have investigated a transgenic approach using widely grown, RYMV-susceptible cultivars of rice and a transgene encoding the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of RYMV. Transformed lines were resistant to RYMV strains from different African locations. In the most extreme examples there was complete suppression of virus multiplication. Resistance was stable over at least three generations. Subject to satisfactory field testing, these transgenic lines may be suitable for introduction into RYMV-affected rice-growing areas. In the most resistant line, transcription analysis indicated that the resistance derives from an RNA-based mechanism associated with posttranscriptional gene silencing.

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Figure 1: Transgene constructs for rice transformation. The constructs contain the RYMV ORF2 either in full length (pPCU3.4) or 3´-truncated (pPCU 2.7) coupled to the CaMV 35S promoter.
Figure 2: (A) Resistance testing of transgenic lines.
Figure 3: (A) Resistance testing of T1, T2, and T3 selected progeny of Bouaké 189 line 10 and nontransformed Bouaké 189 plants. 10 μg of total RNA from plants infected with RYMV-N was used to inoculate different generations of selected transgenic plants.
Figure 4: Resistance testing of transgenic B189 line 10 with different RYMV isolates.
Figure 5: (A) Expression of hygromycin and RYMV transgenes in T3 population.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the West African Rice Development Association (WARDA) for provision of rice varieties and to Dr. Denis Fargette (LPRC, ORSTOM) for virus from different RYMV serogroups. This document is an output from a project funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) for the benefit of developing countries. The views expressed are not necessarily those of DFID. We also acknowledge support for the Sainsbury Laboratory from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation.

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  1. Rosan A. Kok

    Present address: Department of Plant Breeding, Agricultural University of Wageningen, Lawickse Allee 166, 6709 DB, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, Norfolk, England

    Yvonne M. Pinto & David C. Baulcombe

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  1. Yvonne M. Pinto
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  2. Rosan A. Kok
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Correspondence to David C. Baulcombe.

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Pinto, Y., Kok, R. & Baulcombe, D. Resistance to rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) in cultivated African rice varieties containing RYMV transgenes. Nat Biotechnol 17, 702–707 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/10917

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