Abstract: Described herein are fusion proteins comprising a carrier protein attached to a second peptide via a peptide linker, wherein the carrier protein is derived from a tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV).

Abstract: The subject invention concerns materials and methods for providing genetically-engineered resistance in plants to geminivirus, such as, using polynucleotides containing all or a portion of a replication associated protein (Rep) gene of TYLCV and all or a portion of a Rep intergenic region (IR). 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 Rep gene derived from a Florida isolate of TYLCV. 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 comprise a polynucleotide of the invention.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns materials and methods for providing disease and pathogen resistance to a plant. Transformed or transgenic rootstock of a plant with genetically engineered resistance to a plant pathogen, such as a viral pathogen, is grafted onto a compatible non-transgenic plant tissue, e.g., a scion compatible with the rootstock. The non-transgenic portion of the grafted plant is provided with resistance to the plant pathogen. The subject invention also concerns a plant comprising a transformed or transgenic rootstock having resistance to a plant pathogen grafted onto a compatible non-transgenic plant tissue.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to materials and methods for producing plants that are resistant to infection by geminiviruses and other related viruses. 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. Exemplified herein is the use of a polynucleotide encoding a Rep protein derived from tomato mottle geminivirus. The methods of the invention can be used to provide resistance to viral infection in plants such as tomato and tobacco. The present invention also concerns transformed and transgenic plants in plant tissue that express a polynucleotide encoding a plant virus Rep protein, or a fragment or variant thereof.