CONSTRUCTION OF TRANSGENIC POTATO PLANTS RESISTANT TO POTATO-VIRUS-Y

Transgenic Belorusskii-3 potato plants were constructed expressing eit her potato virus Y (PVY) coat protein (CP) gene or its antisense mRNA. In some plants heterologous gene expression was enhanced by the 5'-un translated leader of potato virus X inserted upstream of the PVY CP co ding region. Plant resistance to PVY was examined by ELISA. Resistance to the PVY infection was lower in transgenic plants with weak express ion of PVY CP mRNA and no detectable accumulation of PVY CP than in th ose with high expression of the PW CP mRNA and detectable PVY CP accum ulation, or in those expressing the PVY CP antisense mRNA. We suppose that the resistance to PVY in our transgenic plant-virus system is mai nly controlled by PVY CP mRNA