The subject invention concerns materials and methods for providing
genetically-engineered resistance in plants to tomato yellow leaf curl
geminivirus using a truncated version of the replication associated
protein (Rep) gene of TYLCV. Virus-resistant plants produced according to
the present invention have horticulturally acceptable phenotypic traits.
Methods of the invention comprise transforming a plant with a
polynucleotide wherein when the polynucleotide is expressed in the plant,
the transformed plant exhibits resistance to plant viral infections. An
exemplified embodiment utilizes a polynucleotide comprising a truncated
Rep gene derived from a Florida isolate of TYLCV-Is. The methods of the
invention can be used to provide resistance to TYLCV infection in plants
such as tomato and tobacco. The present invention also concerns
transformed and transgenic plants and plant tissue that express a
polynucleotide comprising a truncated Rep gene of TYLCV.
