Plant germplasm resistant to rna viruses

Abstract

Disclosed is a dsRNA construct used to silencing specific eukaryotic translation initiation factor in plants to produce a plant resistant to viruses such as Potyviruses, Luteoviruses, and Furoviruses. More specifically, the plant would be resistant to viruses such as Wheat streak mosaic virus, Triticum mosaic virus, Soil bourne mosaic virus, or Barley yellow dwarf virus. Also disclosed are non-transgenic wheat plants having the genes for eIF(iso)4E-2 or eIF4G silenced.

1 . A non-transgenic plant comprising an eIF(iso)4E-2 allele in its genome, whereby the eIF(iso)4E-2 allele is an allele which encodes a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID. NO: 2, characterized in that said eIF(iso)4E-2 allele comprises one or more mutations in its nucleotide sequence and whereby as a result of said one or more mutations the plant comprising said mutant allele in its genome has significant resistance to RNA viruses compared to a plant comprising a wild type eIF(iso)4E-2 allele in its genome. 
     
     
         2 . The non-transgenic plant of  claim 1  wherein the plant is resistant to RNA plant viruses selected from the group consisting of Potyviruses, Luteoviruses, and Furoviruses. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transgenic plant of  claim 1  wherein the plant is resistant to Wheat streak mosaic virus. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transgenic plant of  claim 1  wherein the plant is resistant to Triticum mosaic virus. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plant is resistant to Soil bourne mosaic virus. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plant is resistant to Barley yellow dwarf virus. 
     
     
         7 . The seed of a non-transgenic plant produced by the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . A non-transgenic plant comprising an eIF4G allele in its genome, whereby the eIF4G allele is an allele which encodes a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID. NO: 4, characterized in that said eIF4G allele comprises one or more mutations in its nucleotide sequence and whereby as a result of said one or more mutations the plant comprising said mutant allele in its genome has significant resistance to RNA viruses compared to a plant comprising a wild type eIF4G allele in its genome. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transgenic plant of  claim 8  wherein the plant is resistant to RNA plant viruses selected from the group consisting of Potyviruses, Luteoviruses, and Furoviruses. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transgenic plant of  claim 8  wherein the plant is resistant to Wheat streak mosaic virus. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transgenic plant of  claim 8  wherein the plant is resistant to Triticum mosaic virus. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the plant is resistant to Soil bourne mosaic virus. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the plant is resistant to Barley yellow dwarf virus. 
     
     
         14 . The seed of a non-transgenic wheat plant produced by the method of  claim 8 .