Infectious in vivo transcripts of a plum pox potyvirus full-length cDNA clone containing the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA promoter.

A full-length cDNA clone of an aphid non-transmissible isolate of plum pox potyvirus (PPV) was rendered biologically active when placed under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA promoter and the nopaline synthase polyadenylation signal. The cDNA was constructed so that the exact 5' end of the PPV RNA was present at the transcription initiation site. Inoculation of plasmid DNA onto Nicotiana benthamiana led to systemic infection, whereas local lesions were produced in Chenopodium amaranticolor and C. quinoa, typical of an infection with PPV. Examination of infected plants revealed PPV-specific virus particles as well as viral RNA, the coat protein and the non-structural large nuclear inclusion protein (NIb).