First U.S. tomato spotted wilt virus clone could speed development of disease-resistant crops
New technology from Texas A&M AgriLife Research could be a major step toward bringing disease-resistant peppers and tomatoes to growers' fields and lowering costs at grocery stores.
Researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife have created the first official "clone" of the tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in the United States. This breakthrough, detailed in a new study, could greatly accelerate the development of disease-resistant pepper and tomato crops for farmers, potentially leading to cheaper produce in grocery stores.
Led by Dr. Jeanmarie Verchot, the team engineered a DNA copy of a pepper-infecting TSWV isolate, creating an infectious clone that behaves just like the natural virus. This clone allows scientists to easily produce unlimited amounts of the virus, speeding up research on disease-resistant genetics. It also provides breeders with a standardized tool to quickly identify and develop new TSWV-resistant varieties.
TSWV, spread by insects like thrips, damages over 1,000 different plant varieties, causing significant crop losses and higher food prices. The researchers hope this technology will lead to more abundant and affordable produce for consumers nationwide.
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