Biotechnology
Resistance to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus
Tomato spotted wilt virus is now the most important viral pathogen of peanuts in the United States. It can result in losses of up to $40 million annually. UGA plant pathologists are developing transgenic peanut lines from cultivars with superior agronomic traits by placing viral genes in peanut plants. The information carried in the viral genes provides resistance to tomato spotted wilt virus. AgraTech line AT 120 (no natural tomato spotted wilt virus resistance) and UGA line Georgia Green (some natural resistance to tomato spotted) are being used for transformation. Transgenic lines from each cultivar have been generated and are being tested for resistance to tomato spotted wilt virus. Peanut lines with increased resistance to tomato spotted wilt virus will significantly increase yield and will have a positive economic impact on peanut growers' financial well being and competitiveness. (2006)
Source
| Name | Department | |
| Carl Deom | deom@uga.edu | Plant Pathology |