Project Number: 1931-21000-017-06
Project Type:

Start Date: Oct 01, 2005
End Date: Sep 29, 2010

Objective:
The purpose of this agreement is to build a science based relationship, whereby OBI and AFRS pursue advancements in peach transformation and the introduction of novel traits into peach that will add value to the cultivars and address grower and consumer concerns. The first trait to be introduced into peach will be resistance to Plum pox virus (PPV).

Approach:
AFRS and OBI will seek to improve peach transformation systems that are currently inefficient. Modification of regeneration and transformation protocols will be combined with the testing of a wide range of peach germplasm. Hairpin constructs for the development of plum pox virus resistance through gene silencing will be constructed and tested. These will be combined with gene promoters that are highly expressed or expressed only in target tissues. The chlorophyll ab binding promoter, preferentially expressed in green tissues, will be one such promoter tested. Transgenic peach plants will be evaluated for gene silencing, and silenced lines will be evaluated for plum pox virus resistance.