Silencing a gene makes a plant resistant to several viral diseases

Plants injected with virus. Left, a non resistant plant. Right, a resistant plant. Picture: CSIC. CSIC scientists at the the Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS) have developed a method to generate varieties of cucurbits (which includes species such as melon, cucumber, watermelon or pumpkins) resistant to several viral diseases. The method is based on silencing a gene of the plant wich expresses a protein used by the virus for its own replication and spreading of the infection. No foreign elements are introduced, which reduces the chance of unexpected repercussions.

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