The present invention relates to a Cucurbita plant, in particular a squash plant, having wide spectrum resistance to potyvirus such as Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus (ZYMV), Watermelon Mosaic Virus (WMV), Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV) and Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus (MWMV). Methods of selecting a squash plant having wide spectrum potyvirus resistance by marker assisted breeding are also provided.

A method for establishing, restoring or increasing the Rz2 gene mediated resistance to the Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) in the target plant is enabled via the identification and provision of a gene which modulates said resistance according to the invention. In particular, the BNYVV resistance mediated by the Rz2 resistance gene depends on the presence of the gene of the present invention. The gene being involved in conferring said resistance, and embodiments of the present invention that are described in the preceding, offer additional applications, e.g., the use of the resistance modifying gene allele in cis-genetic or trans-genetic approaches, with the goal of developing new resistant cultivars.

The invention relates to a Solanum lycopersicum plant that is resistant to ToBRFV, which plant comprises a QTL on chromosome 8 between SEQ ID NO: 1 and 4. The presence of the QTL on chromosome 8 is identified by use of at least one of the markers selected from the group consisting of the SNP presented in SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 42. The QTL is present in the genome of a Solanum lycopersicum plant representative seed of which was deposited with the NCIMB under deposit number NCIMB 43637.

The invention relates to nucleic acid molecules which impart resistance to rhizomania, in particular to Beet Necrotic Yellow Vein Virus (BNYVV) in a plant, in particular of the genus Beta, and to plants containing such nucleic acid molecules. The invention further relates to methods for producing such BNYVV resistant plants and to marker-based methods for identifying and selecting BNYVV resistant plants, as well as to methods for controlling infection with the pathogen BNYVV.

Transfection of plant cells with dsRNA through foliar application encounters cuticle, cell wall and plasmalemma three major barriers. We developed cationic polymer and sugar based formulations and protocols that can effectively deliver dsRNA into plant cells resulted in gene silencing. This disclosure covers the novel methods to deliver dsRNA into plant suspension cells with ‘one step’ treatment and plant foliar cells with ‘one step’ topical application.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)-resistant solanaceous plant. The present invention provides a CMV-resistant solanaceous plant having a mutated eIF4E gene encoding an eIF4E protein nonfunctional for CMV. In addition, the present invention provides a method for producing a CMV-resistant plant, the method comprising mutating an eIF4E gene of a solanaceous plant into a mutated eIF4E gene encoding an eIF4E protein nonfunctional for CMV.

Orthotospovirus virions travel through the thrips foregut and enter midgut epithelial cells through the interaction between virus glycoproteins and cellular receptors with several protein motifs thought to be involved in the interaction. Single, double and triple mutant polypeptides in the soybean vein necrosis virus (SVNV)/Neohydatothrips variabilis system are provided herein and several are shown to block viral transmission from the thrips to the soybean plants. Methods for inhibiting viral transmission using these polypeptides or constructs comprising polynucleotides encoding peptides are also provided herein.

Cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus) exhibiting increased resistance to Cumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus (CGMMV) are provided, together with methods of producing, identifying, or selecting plants or germplasm with a CGMMV resistance phenotype. Such plants include cucumber plants comprising recombinant chromosomal segments conferring CGMMV resistance. Compositions, including novel polymorphic markers for detecting plants comprising introgressed virus resistance alleles, are further provided.

The present invention relates to a modified YLS9 gene, wherein the modified YLS9 gene can comprise one or more nucleotides replaced, inserted and/or deleted relative to the wild type, and wherein said one or more replaced, inserted and/or deleted nucleotides result in an absence of functional YLS9 protein. According to a further aspect thereof, the invention relates to a modified HsfA2 gene, wherein the modified HsfA2 gene can comprise one or more nucleotides replaced, inserted and/or deleted relative to the wild type, and wherein said one or more replaced, inserted and/or deleted nucleotides result in an absence of functional HsfA2 protein. A plant comprising the modified YLS9 gene and/or the modified HsfA2 gene, preferably both homozygously, the plant exhibits at least intermediate resistance to a Begomovirus, in particular ToLCNDV.

Disclosed are hypersensitive-response eliciting peptides that exhibit improved solubility, stability, resistance to chemical degradation, or a combination of these properties. Use of these peptides or fusion polypeptides, or DNA constructs encoding the same, for modulating plant biochemical signaling, imparting disease resistance to plants, enhancing plant growth, imparting tolerance to biotic stress, imparting tolerance and resistance to abiotic stress, imparting desiccation resistance to cuttings removed from ornamental plants, imparting post-harvest disease or post-harvest desiccation resistance to a fruit or vegetable, or enhancing the longevity of fruit or vegetable ripeness are also disclosed.