Articles
Two decades of field trials in Romania of ‘HoneySweet’ transgenic plum resistant to plum pox virus and new challenges
Article number
1439_43
Pages
327 – 340
Language
English
Abstract
‘HoneySweet’ is the first transgenic plum resistant to Potyvirus plumpoxi (plum pox virus – PPV) via an RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism.
Initiated with testing under confined greenhouse conditions, challenge assays were then moved to the field.
Long-term field trials (1996-2018) were conducted to test virus resistance in a PPV endemic area in Bistrita, Romania.
Overall results revealed a high level of resistance to PPV infection as well as good agronomic performance that make ‘HoneySweet’ efficacious to PPV endemic areas and environmental conditions in Romania.
In addition, field trials clearly demonstrated no effect of transgenic plums carrying the PPV-CP gene on the diversity of PPV variants and non-target organisms (aphids, bees). Benefits from the use for the environment and the agronomic performance demonstrated the potential for ‘HoneySweet’ to be an integral part of Integrated Pest Management programs to reduce the impacts of pesticide use on environment and health.
Presently, the next challenge to practical application of utilizing the resistance mechanism of ‘HoneySweet’ is obtaining approvals for cultivation and consumption in the European Union countries, and in particular those highly affected by PPV. In the meantime, a new approach is developed to use the RNAi mechanism to obtain and test male sterile plum hybrids resistant to PPV.
Initiated with testing under confined greenhouse conditions, challenge assays were then moved to the field.
Long-term field trials (1996-2018) were conducted to test virus resistance in a PPV endemic area in Bistrita, Romania.
Overall results revealed a high level of resistance to PPV infection as well as good agronomic performance that make ‘HoneySweet’ efficacious to PPV endemic areas and environmental conditions in Romania.
In addition, field trials clearly demonstrated no effect of transgenic plums carrying the PPV-CP gene on the diversity of PPV variants and non-target organisms (aphids, bees). Benefits from the use for the environment and the agronomic performance demonstrated the potential for ‘HoneySweet’ to be an integral part of Integrated Pest Management programs to reduce the impacts of pesticide use on environment and health.
Presently, the next challenge to practical application of utilizing the resistance mechanism of ‘HoneySweet’ is obtaining approvals for cultivation and consumption in the European Union countries, and in particular those highly affected by PPV. In the meantime, a new approach is developed to use the RNAi mechanism to obtain and test male sterile plum hybrids resistant to PPV.
Authors
I. Zagrai, L.A. Zagrai, M. Ravelonandro, R. Scorza, C. Dardick, N. Minoiu, P. van der Meer
Keywords
agronomic performance, genetic modification, plum, PPV, resistance, safety assessment, transgenic
Online Articles (75)