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Researchers Find Animal Genes Can Protect Tomatoes From Disease, Cold

ARDMORE, Okla. — Noble Foundation scientists Drs. Marilyn Roossinck, Ping Xu and colleagues have discovered that animal genes can protect tomato plants from a common virus and make the plants cold tolerant. The team published their findings in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).

PNAS had this to say about Roossinck's paper:

"Tomato plants sporting animal genes can resist a common, lethal plant virus and cold temperatures. Marilyn Roossinck and colleagues found that two genes protected tomatoes from a necrotic strain of Cucumber mosaic virus. Cucumber mosaic virus has the broadest spectrum of any plant virus and infects more than 1,200 plant species, yet no natural resistance or tolerance has ever been identified in tomatoes. Some strains can wipe out entire tomato fields. Previous studies have shown the virus induces apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The team inserted one of two animal genes, bcl-xL and ced-9, that counter apoptosis. They found that the more the proteins were produced, the better protected the plants were against the virus. Molecular studies revealed the virus was still present, but the plants could now tolerate it. As well, the proteins also protected against cold, to which tomatoes are very sensitive. The team says these inserted genes have a potential value for farmers and for studying apoptosis in plants. Since the animal proteins work in plants, it demonstrates that parts of this system are evolutionarily preserved across kingdoms, guarding against biological and physical threats."

Rooossinck's complete paper can be viewed online at www.pnas.org under the "PNAS Early Edition" heading.

PNAS is one of the world’s most-cited multidisciplinary scientific serials. Since its establishment in 1914, it continues to publish cutting-edge research reports, commentaries, reviews, perspectives, colloquium papers and actions of the Academy. Coverage in PNAS spans the biological, physical and social sciences. PNAS is published weekly in print, and daily online in PNAS Early Edition.

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The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a non-profit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement, and plant biology research; providing grants to numerous non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs.

To learn more, visit the Noble Foundation Web site at http://www.noble.org.

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