Cotton transgenics with Antisense AC1 gene for resistance against cotton leaf curl virus

Cotton leaf curl virus is a devastating pest in the North India and in small pockets of Southern states. Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) is caused by a Geminivirus, transmitted by whitefly Bemisia tabaci vector. This is a serious problem in the northern region and leads to yield losses up to 58% and 69% (ICAC recorder, 1999). Genetic engineering for cotton transgenics resistant to leaf curl disease (CLCuD) through antisense RNA approach is potential to tackle the disease in cotton. Cotton transgenics resistant to leaf curl disease (CLCuD) using Antisense (rep) (Replicase protein) gene was developed via Agrobacterium mediated transformation. A binary vector carrying the Antisense rep gene along with the npt II (neomycin phospho transferase) gene driven by CaMV-35S promoter and NOS (nopaline synthase) terminator was used for transformation. The confirmation of the rep and npt II genes in the transgenic plants were verified by PCR and integration of T-DNA into the plant genome was confirmed by Southern analysis. The individual transgenics were raised in the green house and screened for the virus resistance. T2 progeny analysis showed classical Mendelian pattern of inheritance.