We have reported that cDNA derived from entire coat protein (CP) gene of potato virus Y (PVY) could induce resistance to PVY infection in transgenic tobacco plants, and the resistance was further demonstrated to be RNA-mediated rather than coat protein-mediated. In this study, we cloned cDNA fragments of 202 bp, 417 bp, and 603 bp in length derived from the 3′ end of the PVY CP gene, and the cDNA fragments were introduced into tobacco (var. NC89) plants via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system. The results of resistance assay showed that the CP cDNA fragments of 417 bp and 603 bp could confer resistance of the trans-genic plants to PVY infection, but the fragment of 202 bp in length could not. Molecular analysis revealed that the resistance was RNA-mediated, which is believed to be a result of post-transcriptional gene silencing. The results indicate that the length of cDNA fragments needed for resistance induction was located somewhere between 202 bp and 417 bp from the 3′ end of PVY CP gene.
