Project Number: 5320-21000-011-07
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: May 10, 2006
End Date: May 09, 2011

Objective:
The purpose of this research is to test the effectiveness of transgenic papaya that Gonsalves' laboratory has developed for resistance to multiple strains of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). We are especially interested in testing the plants for resistance to PRSV strains from Bangladesh. These tests cannot be done in Hawaii because importation of PRSV isolates for inoculation studies would pose a serious potential economic problem for Hawaii's papaya industry. ARS will provide funds to Dr. Marc Fuchs to inoculate and evaluate resistance of transgenic plants that we have developed in Hawaii. The funds are from a USAID grant that focuses on development of PRSV-resistant transgenic papaya for Bangladesh.

Approach:
We have coordinated with Dr. Marc Fuchs in facilitating the importation and establishment of PRSV isolates from Bangladesh and Hawaii at the laboratory of Marc Fuchs. Other isolates from different countries will also be imported to Dr. Fuchs' laboratory. Dr. Fuchs will propagate the PRSV isolates under greenhouse conditions. Gonsalves' laboratory has developed transgenic papaya plants that are resistant PRSV isolates from Hawaii. Inoculations were done in Hawaii. Seeds from these resistant lines will be sent to Dr. Marc Fuchs at Cornell University. The seeds will be germinated and plants will be inoculated with PRSV isolates from Bangladesh, Hawaii, and other countries. Inoculated plants will be evaluated for their resistance to the inoculated PRSV isolates. Results will be communicated to ARS, after which promising transgenic lines will be sent to Bangladesh counterparts for subsequent evaluations. All steps will be done under proper regulatory permits. Formerly 5320-21000-010-11S (06/06). Documents SCA with Cornell University.