A Plant Virus-Based Vector System for Gene Function Studies in Pepper. Issue 3 (3rd September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Choi, Boram; Kwon, Sun-Jung; Kim, Myung-Hwi; Choe, Siwon; Kwak, Hae-Ryun; Kim, Mi-Kyeong; Jung, Choonkyun; Seo, Jang-Kyun
• Is Part Of: Plant physiology. Volume 181:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 867
• Page End: 880
• Publication Date: 2019-09-03
• Subjects: Plant physiology -- Periodicals; Botany -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 571.2
• DOI: 10.1104/pp.19.00836
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-0889

Abstract

Abstract : A plant virus-based system enables transient gain- and loss-of-function studies in pepper, a highly recalcitrant species for genetic transformation. Abstract: While pepper ( Capsicum annuum ) is a highly recalcitrant species for genetic transformation studies, plant virus-based vectors can provide alternative and powerful tools for transient regulation and functional analysis of genes of interest in pepper. In this study, we established an effective virus-based vector system applicable for transient gain- and loss-of-function studies in pepper using Broad bean wilt virus2 (BBWV2). We engineered BBWV2 as a dual gene expression vector for simultaneous expression of two recombinant proteins in pepper cells. In addition, we established enhanced and stable expression of recombinant proteins from the BBWV2-based dual vector via coexpression of a heterologous viral suppressor of RNA silencing. We also developed a BBWV2-based virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) vector, and we successfully silenced the phytoene desaturase gene ( PDS ) using the BBWV2-based VIGS vector in various pepper cultivars. Additionally, we optimized the BBWV2-based VIGS system in pepper by testing the efficiency of PDS gene silencing under different conditions. This BBWV2-based vector system represents a convenient approach for rapid and simple analysis of gene functions in pepper.