Identification of siRNA generating hot spots in multiple viral suppressors to generate broad-spectrum antiviral resistance in plants.

ABSTRACT: Viruses are one of the most devastating plant pathogens causing severe economic losses worldwide. RNA silencing is a robust technology to knock down the expression of specific genes. This mechanism can be exploited to generate virus resistant plants through expression of the viral derived sequences. Viruses in turn have evolved to encode suppressors of RNA silencing to combat host defense. Mixed infection of plants is of common occurrence in nature and simultaneous targeting of suppressor(s) of multiple viruses offers an effective strategy. In this study, we have in silico designed siRNAs against suppressors of the two most devastating viruses of tomato, leaf curl causing tomato begomoviruses and Cucumber mosaic virus. Three different siRNA prediction programs were used to evaluate siRNAs

SUBMITTER: Sharma VK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4312327 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature