Author(s)

Michel Ravelonandro, Ralph Scorza, Jaroslav Polak, Ann Callahan, Boris Krška, Jiban Kundu, Pascal Briard

Department of Virology, Division of Plant Health, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic.
Mendel University Brno, Horticultural Faculty Lednice, Lednice, Czech Republic.
UMR 1332-BFP, Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, INRA-Bordeaux, Villenave d’Ornon Cedex, France.
USDA-ARS, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, USA.

"HoneySweet" is a plum variety developed through genetic engineering to be highly resistant to plum pox potyvirus (PPV) the causal agent of sharka disease that threatens stone-fruit industries world-wide, and most specifically in Europe. Field testing for over 15 years in Europe has demonstrated the stable and durable PPV resistance of “HoneySweet”. Resistance is based on gene silencing whereby the inserted gene induces a natural plant defense mechanism against viruses. This resistance has been transferred to seedlings through cross-hybridization as a single locus dominant trait making it useful as a parent for developing new plum varieties for specific growing areas and markets. “HoneySweet” plums are of high quality and compare well to the quality and nutritional value of conventional plums. “HoneySweet” demonstrates the utilization of genetic engineering to provide safe and effective solutions to important agricultural challenges facing growers, and ultimately consumers.

Genetic Engineering; Prunus Domestica; Sharka; Fruit Quality

M. Ravelonandro, R. Scorza, J. Polak, A. Callahan, B. Krška, J. Kundu and P. Briard, ""HoneySweet" Plum—A Valuable Genetically Engineered Fruit-Tree Cultivar," Food and Nutrition Sciences, Vol. 4 No. 6A, 2013, pp. 45-49. doi: 10.4236/fns.2013.46A005.