Project Number: 1931-21000-017-03
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Aug 15, 2007
End Date: Dec 31, 2009

Objective:
The objectives of this project are to determine the level of susceptibility of 'Improved French' to PPV and to develop genetically engineered clones of 'Improved French' that are highly resistant to PPV.

Approach:
Examination of the PPV susceptibility will be undertaken through inoculation of young propagated trees of 'Improved French' in an approved BL3 bicontainment greenhouse facility at USDA-ARS, Ft. Detrick, Maryland. Under these conditions, vegetative tissue symptoms can be evaluated, and these will be compared to known symptoms on European varieties. 'Improved French' will be genetically engineered with a piece of a PPV gene to induce a plant resistance mechanism to specifically destroy PPV. A number of lines will be tested in the containment greenhouse for resistance. Molecular tests will be carried out to confirm that the PPV resistance mechanism is active and stable.